AAA Offers Driving Tips for Icy Roads

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory for Monday afternoon that could likely affect the commute home for drivers.

According to the advisory, drivers in Montgomery County and the Washington D.C. areas should expect freezing rain and snow from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hazardous storms and inclement weather cause more than half a million crashes and more than 2,000 deaths every winter, according to the AAA foundation for traffic safety and AAA officials are urging drivers to use caution on the roads.

“Roads that are slick or ice covered can create a worst case scenario for drivers,” Tom Calcagni, regional director for AAA Mid-Atlantic, said. “The timing of the worm, during rush hour, is cause for concern.”

AAA Driving Tips for Icy Roads: 

• Slow down- accelerate, turn and brake gradually. Adjust your speed to the road conditions and leave ample room to stop;
• Never use cruise control- patches of ice can cause unexpected wheel spin and the use of cruise control can slow driver response;
• And avoid unnecessarily changing lanes- this increases the chance of hitting a patch of ice between lanes that could cause loss of vehicle control.

AAA Tips for Braking on Ice: 

• Minimize braking on ice- if you’re approaching a stop sign, traffic light or other area where ice often forms, brake early on clear pavement to reduce speed. Maintaining control of your vehicle is much more difficult when braking on ice-covered roadways.
• Control the skid-in the event of a skid, ease off the accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.
• If your car has an anti-lock braking system (ABS): do not remove your foot from the brake during a skid- When you apply the brakes hard enough to make the wheels lock momentarily, you will typically feel the brake pedal vibrate and pulsate back against your foot. This is normal and the system is working as designed.

Slow down, drive with extreme caution & watch for pedestrians and school children leaving school on early dismissal. Here are a few tips as reminders: https://t.co/ofHSqMiaig #AAADCNews #ice #DC pic.twitter.com/WmaeTsPdIL

— AAA Mid-Atl DC News (@AAADCNews) January 8, 2018

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