A winter storm moved through Michigan Wednesday evening and into Thursday morning, bringing snow to Metro Detroit.
Here’s a list of tips from AAA for driving in snowy and icy conditions:
Recommended Videos
Stay home, if possible
AAA advises drivers only to go out if necessary as it is better to avoid any unnecessary risks.
Drive slow
People should drive slow down and drive slower to account for the lower traction when there is ice or snow covering the ground.
Accelerate/Decelerate slower than normal
Drivers are advised not to accelerate quickly and should remember to apply the gas slowly to regain traction to avoid sliding.
They should also remember that it takes longer to slow down on icy surfaces.
Increase following distance
According to AAA, drivers should increase their following distance to about five to six seconds. This will help provide more distance between cars in case a driver needs to stop.
Know your brakes
Drivers should keep the heel of their foot on the floor and use the ball of the foot to apply firm pressure on the brake pedal when driving in snow regardless of if they have antilock brakes or not.
Avoid stopping
AAA says drivers should slow down enough to keep moving a bit until the traffic light changes if possible. "There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling," AAA said.
Don’t power up hills
Drivers should get a bit of inertia going on a flat roadway before they reach a hill, and let it carry them to the top of the hill.
After that, drivers should slow down to travel down the hill.
For more information about driving in the snow, preparing vehicles for winter weather and what to do in the event of an emergency while driving in the snow, visit AAA’s website.
