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If You Must Drive, Follow This Advice #snowDE

Written on: January 3rd, 2014 in Alert Messages Safety Weather Related Notices

While ice and snow remain on Delaware roads, the Delaware Department of Transportation advises motorists to avoid driving unless they must drive. And anyone who must drive should heed the advice of the AAA:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Starting or stopping rapidly increases the likelihood that you will skid.
• Drive slowly. Even at normal speeds, maneuvering on slick roads could cause you to slide out of control.
• Maintain a distance of eight to 10 seconds behind the vehicle you are following. You might not be able to avoid an accident if you follow only two or three seconds behind another vehicle — as you would on dry pavement.
• Know your brakes. If your vehicle does not have anti-lock brakes, snow and ice might cause your brakes to lock up if you forget pump your brakes as you stop. But if your vehicle does have anti-lock brakes, use steady firm pressure to stop your automobile.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. Putting your car in motion after a full stop is more difficult than accelerating after merely decelerating. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until the light changes, do it.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on icy or snow-covered hills often results in wheels spinning without traction. Rather than press the gas pedal as you try to climb, increase your speed slightly before you reach the slope ahead of you. Then, as you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop on a hill. You might not be able to get enough traction on a slippery hill to start moving again.
• Make sure your headlights are on. In fact, it is a good idea to turn on your headlights any time you drive, because you will be more visible to other drivers in any conditions.