Be prepared to drive safely this winter
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Tuesday, November 25, 2008 3:05 PM CST
For the Herald
With the season’s first accumulating snow fall, AAA Wisconsin reminds motorists of some important winter driving and survival tips.
Winter driving tips
- Clear snow and ice from vehicle to improve visibility. Include hood, roof, trunk, turn signals, tail lights and headlights.
- Slow down when visibility and road conditions are impaired, and increase the following distance between vehicles.
- Anticipate dangers including ice on bridges, hidden lane markings, stalled cars and poor visibility.
- Use proper winter braking techniques. For cars without anti-lock brakes, use “squeeze” or “threshold” braking by applying the brakes just short of lock-up, then easing off the brake pedal slightly. For vehicles with anti-lock brakes, continuous, firm braking is necessary.
- Avoid skids by easing off the accelerator and not locking up the brakes. In a skid, carefully steer in the direction you want your vehicle to go and straighten the wheel as soon as the car begins to go in the desired direction.
“During the winter months, it’s important for everyone to monitor the weather forecasts that may affect their driving plans,” said AAA Wisconsin Regional President Tom Frymark. “If conditions are such that authorities advise people not to travel, motorists need to take those warnings seriously and limit unnecessary driving.“
If you become stranded in the winter, AAA advises that it is usually best to stay with your vehicle rather than risk exposure or becoming lost while seeking help. In these cases, a winter survival kit could save your life. AAA recommends all motorists carry the following items in their vehicles during the winter months.
Survival gear
- Cell phone
- Ice scraper & brush
- Boots, gloves, hat, blanket
- Tools & flashlight
- Tire traction material such as sand or cat litter
- Shovel
- Jumper cables
- Flares or reflective triangle
- Food
- Coffee can furnace
- First aid kit
More safe winter driving information is available through your local AAA Wisconsin office or online at www.AAA.com.
AAA Wisconsin offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 600,000 members in Wisconsin. It is part of The Auto Club Group (ACG), the largest affiliation of AAA clubs in the Midwest, with approximately 4.1 million members in eight states. ACG belongs to the national AAA federation, a not-for-profit organization with more than 50 million members in the United States and Canada.
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