AAA Encourages Motorists To Prepare Now for Safe Winter Driving

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct. 1, 2003 -- Motorists who prepare now for the onset of colder weather will increase their safety during the winter-driving season.

Using the start of its Car Care Month on October 1 to issue its annual advisory to motorists, AAA says taking care of preventive vehicle maintenance and adjusting driving habits to the changing weather conditions are the two most important steps to take at this time of year.

"All motorists should have their vehicles inspected annually by a qualified technician and serviced if necessary," said Dawn Duffy, AAA spokesperson. "We recommend the use of a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility to make sure everything that needs to be looked at is fully inspected."

Some of the items to be checked at this time of year include all fluids (especially antifreeze), tires, wheel alignment, brakes, lights, belts, hoses and battery life expectancy. Also important in preparing for winter driving is the need to adjust driving patterns to fit the season since visibility is reduced and the road surface is often degraded during the winter months.

  Motorists can increase their safety by:

  -- Improving visibility by turning on headlights in the late afternoon
     before the sun begins to set.  Always use low-beam headlights in fog,
     rain or snow.

  -- Signaling your intention to turn well in advance.

  -- Clearing all snow and ice from windows, roof, hood, trunk, mirrors,
     lights and signals.

  -- Observing all speed limits and reducing speed whenever road conditions
     or visibility are compromised by foul weather.

  -- Avoiding sudden starts, stops and hard turns, especially when roads are
     slippery or wet.

  -- Not braking hard and using the proper braking technique for the
     vehicle.  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
     lockup, and then easing off the brake slightly before reapplying
     pressure.

  -- Anticipating potential danger on the road, such as icy bridges,
     snow-covered lane markings or stalled cars, by decreasing speed,
     increasing the distance between the vehicle in front of you or changing
     lanes to avoid trouble.

There are more than 7,500 AAA approved repair facilities in North America. The names and addresses of these shops are located at www.aaa.com or by calling your local AAA motor club. AAA regularly inspects the shops in its approved network to make sure they continuously meet its high standards for employing qualified technicians, using quality parts and service equipment, meeting and exceeding customer satisfaction requirements and following ethical business practices. All approved shops display their affiliation with AAA outside place of business.

AAA offers automotive, travel, insurance and financial services to more than 45 million members in the United States and Canada. AAA Minnesota/Iowa is part of The Auto Club Group, which has 4.1 million members in eight Midwest states. AAA Minneapolis serves nearly 170,000 members in Hennepin County.