3 Ways to Prepare for Tuesday’s Storm

AAA Encouraging Drivers to Take Every Precaution

Given the snow, ice and sleet expected to blanket much of the state beginning mid-day tomorrow, AAA is encouraging all drivers across Connecticut to prepare today, to ensure our roadways are as safe as possible throughout the storm.

“The best thing about this storm is that we know it’s coming, giving everyone ample opportunity to prepare and take precautions,” says Amy Parmenter, AAA spokesperson in Greater Hartford. “Driving on snow-covered or icy roads – or getting stranded roadside - puts drivers, their passengers and those who then must come to their rescue, at increased risk”.

AAA says drivers can minimize risk 3 ways:

1. Adjust Driving Times:

Given advance notice of the storm, AAA is encouraging anyone who can, to adjust his or her schedule to avoid being on the road once the weather turns, especially during what is expected to be a potentially icy Tuesday evening commute.

In so doing, drivers help to minimize risk for those who must be out, including our State and local police, hospital staff, and AAA Roadside Rescue crews.

Dangerous winter storms and bad weather are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than two thousand road deaths every winter, according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

2. Adjust Driving Behaviors in accordance with the conditions.

AAA recommends drivers:

• Slow down. Everything takes longer on snow-covered roads. Accelerating, stopping, turning – give yourself time to maneuver by driving slowly.
• Increase your following distance to eight to ten seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Pull over to a safe location whenever visibility is limited or conditions are unsafe
• If you skid, Always look and steer in the direction you want to go
• Don’t use cruise control
• Turn on your headlights so you can see and be seen
• Minimize distractions

And, of course, always wear your seatbelt.

3. Prepare Your Vehicles

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.

For those who must spend some part of Tuesday on the road, AAA is reminding them to spend some part of today making sure their vehicle is as winter-ready as possible. This includes:

• Check battery
• Check tire pressure
• Full tank of gas
• Check that windshield wipers are in good working order
• Check headlights are working and clean
• Fully stocked winter emergency kit: Shovel, ice scraper, de-icer, blanket, gloves, flashlight, warning flares, kitty litter, fully charged cellphone, cellphone charger, water, snacks, medicine
• Check to make sure you AAA membership* is up-to-date and that your membership card is readily available.

Free tire and battery checks are available at the new AAA Car Care, 755 Queen Street in Southington, or any AAA Approved Auto Repair facility.

*In the interest of everyone’s SAFETY, AAA is sharing a membership discount code for new and renewing members. New members should ask for the SAFETYNEW discount. Renewing members can ask for the discount by simply saying SAFETY. 

The SAFETY discount is available to anyone living in Hartford, Middlesex, New London, Tolland and Windham Counties. It is available by visiting one of our AAA stores, including the new AAA Car Care Center in Southington, or online.

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