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With extreme cold headed to St. Lawrence County, AAA offering words of caution to drivers

Posted 1/4/18

With extreme low temperatures forecast for St. Lawrence County and beyond, AAA officials on Thursday released a statement saying they want “to make sure drivers are prepared to battle the cold.” …

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With extreme cold headed to St. Lawrence County, AAA offering words of caution to drivers

Posted

With extreme low temperatures forecast for St. Lawrence County and beyond, AAA officials on Thursday released a statement saying they want “to make sure drivers are prepared to battle the cold.”

“Hazardous storms and inclement weather are a factor in more than half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. AAA urges drivers to slow down, be cautious and prepare their vehicles for the cold days ahead for their own personal safety,” the release says.

“If you have no choice but to venture out into ice and snow with frigid temperatures, remember to pack an emergency kit and drive slowly,” Elizabeth Carey, director of public relations for AAA WCNY said in the pre-written statement. “However, if you really don’t have to go out, stay home (and root for the Bills this weekend!). Even if you can drive well in the ice and snow, not everyone else can.”

AAA says call volume across part of New York has been double the usual rate for a typical winter day for more than a week now. Call volume increased before Christmas and continues to climb with the majority of calls for dead batteries and vehicles that need to be towed. To avoid long hold times amid prolonged winter weather with high call volume, members can request road service via the free AAA mobile app or AAA.com, the organization said.

To help keep drivers safe on the road, AAA offers the following tips for driving in winter weather:

• Do not 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.

• Slow down and adjust your speed to the road conditions. Leave yourself ample room to stop. Accelerate, turn and brake as gradually and smoothly as you can.

• Don’t slam on the brakes. If your car begins to skid, continue to steer in the direction you want the car to go. Slamming on the brakes will only make your vehicle harder to control.

• Use extreme caution on bridges and overpasses. Black ice typically forms first in shaded areas of the roadway and on bridges and overpasses that freeze first and melt last. Although the road leading up to a bridge may be fine, the bridge itself could be a sheet of ice.

• React quickly. Watch the traffic ahead and slow down immediately at the sight of brake lights, skidding cars or emergency flashers.

As for vehicles, proper planning and maintenance can go a long way in the cold. To prepare a vehicle for the cold weather ahead, AAA recommends the following tips:

• Carry an emergency kit equipped for winter weather. The kit should include a cellphone charger, sand or kitty litter, a small shovel, flashlight, an ice scraper, jumper cables, a blanket, gloves or mittens and snacks and water.

• Replace worn windshield-wiper blades. If your climate is especially harsh, purchase one-piece, beam-type or rubber-clad “winter” blades to fight snow and ice buildup. Use cold-weather windshield washer solvent and carry an ice scraper.

• Inspect your tires. Make sure tires have adequate tread depth – at least 4/32” – as worn tires can affect a driver’s ability to stop in slick conditions. An easy way to check for wear is by inserting a quarter into your tread groove. If the top of Washington's head is exposed, the tread depth is less than 4/32" and it’s time to replace your tires. Also, check that your car has a spare tire and keep it properly inflated in case you need it.

• Have your battery tested. A AAA survey found that two-thirds of American drivers have never proactively had their car battery tested. If a battery is more than three years old have it checked by a professional to ensure it is strong enough to endure cold weather. AAA’s Mobile Battery Service offers free battery testing for AAA members.

• Wash and wax your vehicle. To help prevent rust damage, which costs drivers approximately $3 billion every year, thoroughly wash and clean your vehicle prior to the start of winter and apply a coat of wax to protect the finish. During the winter, frequently wash your vehicle (including the undercarriage) to loosen, dissolve and neutralize road salts. Always use a high-quality car wash solution, not a household dish detergent that will strip the wax from your vehicle.