BUFFALO, N.Y., December 2008 – AAA is encouraging motorists to prepare their vehicles and themselves for adverse cold weather driving conditions as we head into the winter season, when more crashes involving property damage occur and more requests for roadside assistance are received.

Prepare Your Vehicle
Be sure your vehicle is prepared for the cold weather and winter conditions by following these simple maintenance tips:

• Have your vehicle’s battery and charging system tested. The most common cause of cold-weather breakdowns is a weak or dead battery. A fully charged battery in good condition is required to start an engine in cold weather.
• Have the brakes checked to ensure they work properly and stop smoothly, which helps prevent the wheels from locking on slick surfaces.
• Make sure the tires are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can be dangerous, and may suffer damage. Remember, the air pressure in your tires will decrease 1-2 psi for every 10 degree drop in outside temperature.
• Make sure the engine coolant provides anti-freeze protection down to the lowest temperatures you are likely to encounter; -30oF/-34oC is a good guideline.
• Visibility is critical in adverse weather conditions, so replace worn windshield wipers that streak, and be sure the washer reservoir is filled with a winter solvent that will not freeze.
• Keep the gas tank at least half full at all times to minimize condensation buildup that can lead to gas line freeze-up.
• As a safety precaution, equip your vehicle with a winter driving kit that includes a fully-charged cellular phone, flashlight with fresh batteries, small snow shovel and brush, small bag of abrasive material (salt, sand, non-clumping cat litter) or traction mats, ice scraper, booster cables, blanket, flares or triangle warning devices, heavy gloves, window washing solvent, and a first aid kit. Program the cell phone with important numbers including a reliable roadside service provider, such as AAA, that will be able to assist you during inclement weather.

You can visit a local, reliable auto repair facility for assistance in preparing your vehicle for winter driving, or AAA can assist with a listing of AAA Approved Auto Repair® facilities that have met and maintained high professional standards. AAA Car Care Plus® is also an option for Western New Yorkers.

Drive With Caution
When taking to the road during winter, remember to drive with caution to help maintain your safety and that of passengers and other roadway users. AAA recommends the following tips for winter driving:

• Before starting out in snowy weather, take time to remove the snow from the entire car so it doesn’t blow onto your windshield or the windshields of other drivers. Make sure your mirrors and lights are clean as well.
• Drive with your low-beam headlights illuminated.
• Slow down and allow extra time to reach your destination.
• Allow sufficient room for maintenance vehicles and plows, stay at least 15 car lengths (200 feet) back.
• Be sure to signal your intention to turn well before doing so.
• Avoid sudden starts, stops and hard turns; especially when roads are slippery or wet.
• Don’t brake hard and use the proper braking technique for the vehicle you drive. Cars with anti-lock brakes require a steady gradual application of pressure to the brake pedal. Cars without anti-lock brakes may need firm pressure on the brake pedal just short of wheel lock up, and then easing off the brake slightly before reapplying pressure.
• Anticipate potential danger on the road such as icy bridges, snow covered lane markings, or stalled cars by looking ahead in traffic. Actions by other drivers will alert you to problems and give you extra time to react. Decrease speed, increase distance between the vehicle in front of you, or change lanes to avoid trouble.
• If you get stuck in snow, straighten the wheel and accelerate slowly. Add sand or non-clumping kitty litter under the drive wheels to help avoid spinning the tires.
• If your tires lose traction, continue to look and steer in the direction you want to go. If the drive wheels start to spin or slide while going up a hill, ease off the accelerator slightly and then gently resume speed.
• Don't use cruise control in precipitation and freezing temperatures.

AAA reminds motorists that they can receive a 35-point vehicle maintenance inspection by appointment at no charge by visiting any AAA Approved Auto Repair facility or AAA Car Care Plus.

For more information on winter driving or preventative maintenance, or to download a winter driving guide, entitled “How to Go on Ice and Snow,” click here, click www.AAA.com/auto, call (800) 836- CLUB (2582), or visit any AAA Travel and Insurance Center.

As Upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA provides over 880,000 members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive related services. Since its founding in 1900, AAA has been a leading advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA can be visited at www.AAA.com.