By: Follow South Jersey Staff
SOUTH JERSEY — With the major winter storm forecast to hit South Jersey with several inches of snow this weekend, AAA South Jersey is offering tips on how to stay safe on the roadways.
“The best way to stay safe is simply to stay off the roads, if possible,” AAA South Jersey spokesperson Matthew Bowker said. “Fewer unnecessary vehicles on the roads means fewer accidents and allows maintenance and first responders to better do their jobs. If you absolutely have to go out, try to take main roads when possible, go slow, and leave extra distance between the car in front of you.”
Along with the advice to stay home, AAA South Jersey offers these additional tips:
Stay alert. Avoid driving if you are tired. Get the proper amount of rest before driving in winter weather.
Slow down. Adjust your speed and leave yourself ample room to stop. Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you. Accelerate, turn and brake gradually.
Watch the traffic ahead. Slow down immediately at the sight of brake lights, skidding vehicles, or emergency flashers.
Never use cruise control on slippery roads. You will lose the ability to transfer more weight to the front tires by simply lifting off the accelerator.
Avoid unnecessary lane changes. This increases the chances of hitting a patch of ice between lanes, which could cause loss of vehicle traction.
Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads may only result in spinning your wheels. Try to get a little momentum up before you reach the hill and let that carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
Minimize the need to brake on ice. If you are approaching a stop sign, traffic light, or other area where ice often forms, brake early on clear pavement to reduce speed. Vehicle control is much more difficult when braking on ice-covered roadways.
Control the skid. Slamming on the brakes can make the skid even worse. In the event of a skid, continue to look and steer where you want to go.
Do not brake and turn at the same time. Asking your vehicle to do two things at a time makes it more likely that your tires will lose traction. Brake first, then turn, then accelerate.
Know your brakes. If you have anti-lock brakes and need to slow down quickly, put your foot down hard on the pedal. It is normal for the pedal to vibrate a bit when the ABS is activated. If your car does not have an anti-lock braking system – keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to regulate the pressure applied to the brake pedal so that the brakes are at the “threshold” of lockup but still rotating.
Drive-distraction free. Do not text or engage in activities that will distract you while driving. If driving with a passenger, ask them to carry out activities that would otherwise distract you from driving safely.
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