With the expected wintry weather on the way, AAA is reminding drivers to take it easy when traveling in the snow.
“Preventative steps today can go a long way tomorrow,” says Terri Rae Anthony, safety advisor for AAA East Central. “Weather conditions that lead to black ice, heavy snow, and other rough driving conditions are particularly dangerous this time of year.”
AAA East Central offers the following tips for driving in winter weather:
- Stay Home. This is the number one way to avoid a crash in the winter.
- Leave Early. If you’re running late to work, that’s going to lead to anxiety which will cloud your judgment, possibly leading to risky driving behaviors.
- Slow down. Accelerate, turn, and brake as gradually and smoothly as you can. This will help you maintain control in rough conditions.
- Don’t tailgate. Normal following distances of three to four seconds on dry pavement should be extended to a minimum of five to six seconds when driving on slippery surfaces. The extra time will provide additional braking room should a sudden stop become necessary.
- Never use cruise control on slippery roads. If your vehicle hydroplanes or skids, you will lose the ability to regain some traction simply by lifting off the accelerator. It will be harder to recover from the loss of traction if cruise control is active.
- Turn against the skid. If your car begins to skid, continue to steer in the direction you want the car to go.
The winter season is the worst for crashes in the nation. 46 percent of crashes that happen in bad weather occur during the winter months according to AAA.
