WASHINGTON, D. C. (Tuesday, March 20, 2018) –It is as if nature itself is “sticking a bulls-eye on our backs.” Adding insult to injury, it had to happen on the first day of spring. Brace yourself for the sudden impact of heavy back-breaking snow. Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced a snow emergency from 9 a.m. Wednesday - 7am Thursday. AAA-Atlantic is warning drivers to stay off the roads if possible. Even if you can drive well in that much heavy wet, snow, keep in mind, others can’t, and that includes that fellow driving next to you.  

Unless it’s absolutely necessary to be someplace, consider staying home on Wednesday and keeping things simple and safe, AAA-Atlantic urges. Washington, D.C. and its environs will see the “biggest snowstorm of the winter,” weather forecasters are predicting. This could be one for the record books this close to Palm Sunday. The snowfall is expected to start falling during the overnight hours. It has already dropped inches in higher elevations in the greater Washington area. Eight to twelve inches of snow will blanket the nation’s capital and the Washington metro area, if the forecast holds true. Some areas could see over a foot of snow. With that much snow, roads can become deadly.  

Just as spring begins, expect school closings galore, some closures have already been announced, and other cancellations and delays. Here is a word to the wise; avoid unnecessary travel if road conditions are poor. Travel will be substantially impacted by Wednesday, as visibility and road conditions deteriorate quickly.

            “Motorists must curb unnecessary travel during the storm to protect motorists and allow road crews and emergency vehicles to do their jobs quicker and without delays. In addition, packing or stowing an emergency kit in your vehicle can be a life-saving preparation for a monstrous storm,” said John B. Townsend II, Manager of Public and Government Affairs, AAA Mid-Atlantic. “If you have to travel in winter weather, leave plenty of extra time, buckle up, slow down, and keep a safe distance from the car in front of you.”

Venturing out into the elements tomorrow can be an anxiety-inducing experience. Snow and sleet can cause significant safety problems by reducing visibility and making it difficult to maneuver or stop. In fact, the National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning for the Washington, D.C. metro area ahead of the heavy snow expected in the area. 

AAA-Atlantic is urging motorists to prepare accordingly ahead of the storm for road travel and once its strikes to exercise caution when traveling during the storm. 

TUESDAY – Prepare your vehicle

• Fill the gas tank.
• Emergency kit items to include – deicer, shovel, ice scraper, sand or kitty litter (for traction).
• Pack a blanket, extra gloves and hat, heavy coat – if you’re stuck on the road for an extended period of time you’ll need to stay warm, especially if your vehicle is not running.
• Pack snacks, beverages, etc. – have them packed by the door to take in the morning (so they don’t freeze in the car overnight).
• Charge your cell phone – have a backup power source for the car in case you’re stuck for a while.
• Make sure your windshield wipers and lights (headlights, taillights, and turn signals) are working properly – make sure you can see and can be seen.

The first day of spring snowstorm started with mixed precipitation Tuesday, but will change over to snowfall Tuesday evening, dropping up to a foot of snow in some areas from this evening through Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.  As always, severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for automobile travel. That is especially the case in the Washington metro area, where most folks are spooked by the prospects of driving during heavy snow, on ice or freezing sleet, for that matter. 

AAA is no exception to storm preparations, as the roadside assistance leader gears up to rescue motorists during and after this next storm. AAA’s emergency roadside assistance fleet is ready to rescue our members as quickly and safely as possible. This means all hands are on deck at AAA.

TUESDAY NIGHT/WEDNESDAY – Winter Weather Driving Tips

• Remove all snow from your vehicle, including the roof, hood, and trunk. While driving, snow can blow off a car onto the windshield of a nearby vehicle, temporary blinding that driver’s vision.
• Don’t let your car idle – you should warm up your car no more than 30 seconds before you start driving, as the engine warms up faster from being driven.  Never leave your car idling, unattended.
• Allow plenty of extra time to get where you need to go.
• Increase following distance between you and the cars around you.
• Stay at least six car lengths behind snow plows, salt trucks and road crews.
• Slow down and move over – if you see police, EMS or roadside assistance operators helping a motorist on the side of the road.

In the wake of the heavy snow, conditions will be treacherous on area roadways. If you must drive, accelerate slowly when driving on snow, helping you to gain traction and avoid skids.  Similarly, decelerate slowly on snowy roads, because it takes longer to stop.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has analyzed bad weather and crashes throughout the year. In its  2016  study, (Motor Vehicle Crashes, Injuries and Deaths in Relation to Weather Conditions), researchers for the AAA Foundation found that rain, snow, sleet and fog are a factor in more than 1.1 million police-reported crashes, 425,000 injuries and 5,100 traffic deaths per year.

If you must venture out, or your job requires you to be there, remember the latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.  Delay road trips when especially bad weather has been forecast. If you must travel, always inform others of your route, destination, and estimated time of arrival. One more thing, be careful on infrequently traveled roads, which may not be cleared as often as other roads.  It bears repeating. Stay off the roads.

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com