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AAA Tidewater’s Tips with Driving in Hazardous Road Conditions

snowy highway

VIRGINIA BEACH, VA., (February 25, 2015) – With the strong potential for snow and icy conditions overnight, AAA Tidewater Virginia offers the following tips for preparing for adverse conditions.

PREPARE YOUR VEHICLE

  • Check to ensure the battery, ignition system, and lights are in good working order.
  • Check brakes and tires for wear that might making stopping and starting difficult.
  • Make sure your tires are properly inflated and in good condition. The amount of traction determines how well the vehicle accelerates, turns and stops.
  • Check the level of antifreeze in your vehicle’s cooling system. The owner’s manual will help determine the best type of coolant for your vehicle.
  • Have clear vision to drive. Wipers should be checked for wear.
  • When you get home, raise the wipers off the front windshield before the snow to avoid freezing to the glass overnight
  • Washer fluids need to be filled with anti-freeze washer solvent. Wipe off wiper blades BEFORE you drive to avoid damage from ice.
  • Have an emergency winter driving kit in the vehicle.  Include items like: abrasive material (sand, or kitty litter) small shovel, flashlight, ice scraper/snow brush, booster cables, blanket, gloves or mittens, flares or reflective triangles.
  • Keep your gas tank at least half full to avoid gas line freeze up.

DRIVING TIPS

  • Remove ALL snow from vehicle, snow left on any surface increases the possibility that visibility will be affected while driving.
  • When parking, back into the driveway or parking space to make leaving easier and less dangerous after the snow.
  • Wear your seat belt and make sure everyone in the vehicle does as well.
  • Give yourself a bigger margin of safety around your vehicle. Leave a bigger gap in front, on the side and behind your vehicle as well.
  • Don’t use cruise control when driving on any slippery surface.
  • Use extra caution on bridges, overpasses, shaded spots and intersections when approaching other vehicles.
  • Brake slowly and gently, slamming on the brakes on ice covered roads dramatically increases your risk of losing control of your vehicle.
  • If you start to skid, take your foot off the brake, ease off the gas pedal and steer in the direction you want to go! This helps keep you from over-correction, a common cause of crashes in snow and ice.

As part of North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA Tidewater Virginia provides its more than 325,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding AAA Tidewater Virginia has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.  For more information, visit AAA.com and follow us on Twitter at Twitter.com/AAATidewaterVA or on Facebook at facebook.com/AAATidewaterVirginia

 

CST 1016202-80 Copyright © Tidewater Automobile Association of Virginia, Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
AAA Tidewater Virginia is a member club affiliated with the American Automobile Association (AAA) national federation and serves members in the Tidewater Virginia region (All Hampton Roads cities, including Norfolk, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Hampton, Newport News, Williamsburg; Virginia's Eastern Shore; as well as the following counties: Greensville, Surry, Brunswick, Isle of Wight, Gloucester, Lancaster, Middlesex, Richmond County, Southampton, Sussex, Mecklenburg, James City County, York, Lunenburg, Essex, King & Queen, Mathews, Northumberland, and Westmoreland).