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Blizzard 2020: AAA offers severe weather advice

Submitted

Wed, Feb 26th 2020 07:40 pm

Warns motorists to be prepared for winter weather

By AAA of Western and Central New York

Due to forecasted winter weather and poor travel conditions, AAA Western and Central New York is anticipating extremely high call volume in coming days. In such situations, we prioritize service requests in an effort to assist members who are in dangerous roadside conditions first.

AAA advice to motorists:

  • If you are in an emergency situation, don’t hesitate to call 911 for assistance. If you are at home or in a safe location, we appreciate your patience as we try to ensure the safety of those on the road in extremely cold conditions first.
  • If a driving ban goes into effect, please obey it. We may be unable to provide service in areas that are under travel bans. Please refer to www.511ny.com, or your town or county website for further information.
  • If possible, stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t. Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can.
  • If you do travel, make sure you have adequate gasoline in your vehicle. Always try to have at least half a tank or more in the winter.
  • Try to avoid driving when visibility is poor. If you must drive, keep your speed low, use your low-beam headlights, and pull off to a safe spot if conditions worsen.
  • Request emergency road service online at www.AAA.com, via AAA mobile app, or by calling 800-222-4357.
  • Check your local weather and road conditions before you drive.
  • If you go off the road, stay seat belted in your vehicle and call for help. If you are in an emergency situation, call 911.
  • If you get stranded in your car, keep your tailpipe clear of snow to ensure proper ventilation and keep your window cracked open a bit until help arrives.
  • The top three winter driving tips include slowing down, increasing the space between yourself and other vehicles, and braking, then turning.

Winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

As upstate New York’s largest member services organization, AAA Western and Central New York provides more than 887,000 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. Visit AAA at www.AAA.com.

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