Snow and ice are great equalizers, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic — no matter what type of vehicle you drive, you will have the same problems maintaining control and stopping.
The organization’s Web site offers the following tips for driving in ice and snow:
• If you don’t have to drive, don’t — wait until the streets are treated.
• Buckle up.
• Beware of ice, especially on bridges, overpasses and ramps since these freeze first.
• Give yourself extra time and drive slowly.
• Clear snow and ice off the entire vehicle, including all windows, mirrors, lights and roof. This not only increases your visibility to other drivers, it also prevents snow and ice from flying off of your vehicle and damaging other cars.
• Turn headlights on.
• Leave extra space between you and the car in front of you to react to sudden moves by another driver or conditions out of your control.
• Do not use cruise control.
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Use your manual gearshift, if available, to keep your car in lower gear on slippery roads as needed.
• Stuck in snow? Don’t spin tires. Clear away as much snow as possible from around tires and under the vehicle. Use cat litter or salt around the front wheels for front wheel drive and rear wheels for rear wheel drive.
• If you start to skid, take your foot off the brake or the accelerator, shift the car into neutral (automatic transmission) or declutch the car (manual), steer into the skid then begin to accelerate slowly. Avoid panic braking or hard acceleration in a skid.
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