With snow and wintry weather forecast for parts of the region this weekend, AAA Mid-Atlantic is urging drivers to be prepared for the conditions and to remain cautious if out on the roads, while the auto club’s roadside rescue fleet prepares for a busy period of assisting drivers.
AAA anticipates an increase in emergency roadside service calls as the wintry weather sweeps through and road conditions deteriorate, with slide-offs and crashes due to slick roads, battery/non-start problems and flat tires being the main culprits. Last winter (Dec. 2022-March 2023), AAA Emergency Roadside Service crews assisted more than 95,000 stranded drivers across AAA Mid-Atlantic territory in Virginia alone.
AAA tips to prepare vehicles for winter weather
- Make certain your tires have good tread for adequate traction and are properly inflated. For every 10-degree drop in temperature, tires can lose 1 pound of air pressure.
- Have the battery checked by a professional to ensure it is strong enough to face cold weather. When the air temperature is 32 degrees, a battery’s starting power drops 35 percent. Also, the average lifespan of a car battery is 3-5 years. AAA members can request a visit from a AAA mobile battery service technician who will test their battery and replace it on-site, if necessary.
- Keep your gas tank at least half-full to avoid gas line freeze-up.
- Ensure that windshield wiper blades are in good condition and the wiper fluid reservoir is full. A winter blend of wiper fluid that resists freezing is recommended.
- Make sure all lights (headlights, tail and brake lights, turn signals) are working properly so you can see and be seen in bad weather conditions.
Hazardous storms and inclement weather are a factor in an average of nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,200 traffic crash deaths nationwide every winter, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. AAA Mid-Atlantic is encouraging drivers to have safety in mind if they must venture out on the wintry roadways.
“Ice and snow can cause significant safety problems by reducing visibility and making it difficult to maneuver or stop,” said Morgan Dean, AAA Mid-Atlantic spokesperson for Virginia. “It’s important for drivers to be cautious and take it slow if they have to get out on the roads. Even in areas that see cold rain, drivers could be dealing with black ice as temperatures drop below freezing in the overnight hours. ”
On average, about one-third (32%) of crashes during the winter occur in adverse weather or road surface conditions, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.
AAA offers the following tips for driving in snowy and icy conditions:
- Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in winter conditions, not everyone else can. Don’t tempt fate. Stay home until crews can properly clear roadways.
- Check road conditions. Before you leave, assess the conditions of roads along your route. A good source for this is the Virginia Department of Transportation’s 511 Traffic Information Page.
- Don’t continue at the same speed you would be traveling in clear, dry conditions –Rain, snow and ice can dramatically reduce your tires’ traction. Drivers should slow down to regain the traction that is lost due to the weather.
- Know your brakes –Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
- Don’t brake and turn at the same time –Asking your vehicle to do two things at a time makes it more likely that your tires will lose traction. Brake first, then turn, then accelerate.
- Don’t follow behind other vehicles as closely as you would when driving in clear, dry conditions –Slick roads means your vehicle cannot slow down as quickly. Increase following distances to 8 seconds or more and always keep open space to at least one side of your vehicle, in case you need make an emergency lane change maneuver.
- Don’t be rough with your steering, acceleration and braking – If you are not gentle with steering, acceleration and braking, your vehicle’s balance can be negatively affected, increasing the chance of experiencing a skid. Always steer, accelerate and brake smoothly.
- Don’t hit the brakes if you start to skid – Slamming on the brakes can make the skid even worse. If you are approaching a patch of ice, brake during your approach. Applying pressure to your brakes while on the ice will only throw you into a skid. If you do start to skid, ease off of the accelerator or brake and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.
- Don’t stop if you can avoid it –There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it. Be aware of traffic ahead and slow down even more if you start to see brake lights or fish tailing cars.
More details are available in AAA’s resource, “How to Go on Ice and Snow,” found at https://exchange.aaa.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/AAA-How-to-Go-Ice-Snow.pdf.
Far too many drivers become stranded on the roadside this time of year. Nationwide, AAA handles an average of 600,000 emergency roadside assistance calls per week in the winter with the most common problems being dead batteries, extractions, towing and flat tires.
“Drivers should heed travel warnings and stay home unless they absolutely must venture out,” Dean said. “AAA is reminding anyone who must drive on icy or snow-covered roads to be prepared for the conditions and to go nowhere – not even a short distance – without a full tank of gas, a fully charged cell phone (loaded with the AAA Mobile App or the AAA Roadside assistance number pre-programmed) and a fully stocked emergency kit.”
AAA recommendations for winter emergency kit items to keep in your vehicle
- Bag of abrasive materials such as sand, salt or cat litter for gaining traction in snow/ice
- Snow shovel
- Flashlight
- Winter coat, hat and gloves or mittens
- Ice scraper and snow brush
- Jumper cables
- Blanket or sleeping bag
- Warning flare or triangles
- Cellular phone and emergency charger
- Food and water
- First aid kit
