(File Photo of Snowy Weather on Fifth Street)

Noah Haswell, Beaver County Radio News

(Pittsburgh, PA) According to a release from Jim Garrity, Director of Affairs at AAA East Central, storms in winter, road conditions that are sloppy, and bad weather, are reasons that close to half a million crashes and over 2,000 deaths occur on the road each year. Garrity also provides some tips that you can use to stay safe driving in the snowy weather and to get your vehicle ready for the upcoming winter, and they are:

• Stay Home. If the weather forecast is precarious and you don’t have to be anywhere, this is the number one way to avoid a crash in the winter. 
• Leave Early. Running late to work leads to anxiety, which can cloud judgment and possibly lead to risky driving behaviors.
• Slow down. Accelerate, turn, and brake as gradually and smoothly as possible. This will help maintain control in rough conditions.
• Don’t 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 a vehicle hydroplanes or skids, motorists will lose the ability to regain some traction simply by lifting off the accelerator. If cruise control is active, it will be harder to recover from the loss of traction.
• If a car begins to skid, continue to steer it in the direction you want it to go.
• Have the vehicle’s battery tested. This is the number one call that AAA receives in the wintertime. If a battery is more than two years old, it should be tested.
• Replace worn windshield-wiper blades. The blades should completely clear the glass with each swipe and should be replaced if they leave streaks or miss spots. Consider installing winter wiper blades that wrap the blade frame in a rubber boot to reduce ice and snow buildup.
• Use the right washer fluid. Fill the windshield washer fluid reservoir with a winter washer fluid blend to prevent it from freezing.
• Inspect tires. Ensure tires have adequate tread depth – at least 4/32” – as worn tires can affect a motorist’s ability to stop in slick conditions. An easy way to check for wear is by inserting a quarter into the 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 tires. Also, check if the vehicle has a spare tire and keep it properly inflated. In harsh winter climates, snow tires may be a wise investment.
• Carry an emergency kit equipped for winter weather. The kit should include sand or cat litter, a small shovel, flashlight, an ice scraper or snow brush, booster cables, a blanket, gloves or mittens and flares or reflective triangles.