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Be prepared and go slow
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Ready for extreme weather driving?
Here’s what the pros know.
Pro tips for driving in extreme weather.

Senior Safety Consultant Shelley Nasby logs more than 30,000 miles a year, driving in all kinds of weather — from coastal downpours to high-desert blizzards. 

Although she’s never had a serious weather-related accident, she’s encountered plenty of drivers who weren’t so lucky.

Here are her 10 tips for staying out of the ditch this winter:
  1. Check your tires. Make sure they’re properly inflated and have plenty of tread. If necessary, install all-weather or snow tires.
  2. Buy decent snow chains — and practice putting them on. Keep warm gloves and a kneeling pad handy.
  3. Have a flashlight with batteries that work. This is critical if you need to put on chains in the dark. Learn how to build your car’s emergency kit, including an emergency blanket, first aid kit, and jumper cables.
  4. Replace worn wiper blades. While ice and snow may cause more worry, the vast majority of weather-related crashes occur on wet pavement or during rainstorms. Replace windshield fluid with de-icing or water-beading formulas.
  5. Test your car’s battery. AAA recommends inspecting your battery at every oil change and testing it annually after three years.
  6. Check weather and road conditions before you leave. Monitor safety advisories. If in doubt, stay home.
  7. Know your car’s safety features, and prepare for how to respond in a skid. Take extra care when the rain starts, as oils can make roads slicker.
  8. Don’t drive through floodwaters. Twelve inches of moving water can sweep away your vehicle. Remember: “Turn around. Don’t drown.”
  9. Allow plenty of following distance. A rule of thumb is to add one second for each additional hazard, such as heavy rain, ice or snow, low visibility, or slow-moving vehicles.
  10. Pull over safely if conditions deteriorate. A good sign that it’s time to pull over is when your windshield wipers can’t keep up with the rain or if you notice truck drivers are pulling over to avoid the conditions.
For more tips on driving in extreme weather, including what to do in an emergency, see our fact page.  
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