Adverse Weather: Snow/Slush
Driving safely in snow/slush is boosted by:
• Maintaining a safe following distance (at least four seconds)
• Lowering speed to match road conditions
• Watching for black ice
• Accelerating and braking slowly
• Avoiding sudden moves
• Knowing how to handle a skid
• Seeing and being seen (via headlights or emergency lights)
• Using extreme caution around snowplows/salt trucks.
Adverse Weather: Rain and Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning happens when a layer of water separates a vehicle’s tires from the ground. To prevent it, AAA recommends drivers:
• Drive slowly: The higher the speed, the higher the chance of hydroplaning.
• Follow the leader: Operate behind another vehicle while maintaining a safe following distance.
• Leave extra room: Maintain a minimum of five seconds of following distance)
• Stay in the center lane of a highway
• Maintain correct tire inflation and tread
• Avoid cruise control
Adverse Weather: Black Ice
Black ice is a thin coat of glazed ice on a road surface, which is often invisible to the eye. It forms:
• From melting snow — typically when temperatures rise above freezing during the day and fall below freezing at night
• From river/stream water vapor
• On roads that don’t receive much sunshine, such as the floor of a mountain valley or along a tree-lined street
• On bridges and overpasses
