'A Deadly Day on Connecticut's Roads'

One day, after four people were killed and several more injured in separate accidents on roadways across Connecticut, AAA is reminding drivers to slow down, look up, keep your eyes on the road and keep other motorists — and pedestrians — in mind. Two of the accident victims were pedestrians.

“We don’t know the exact cause of each of the accidents, but we do know that 97 percent of all fatal crashes are preventable.” says AAA spokesperson Amy Parmenter.

As Connecticut prepares for what could be a messy, slippery evening commute, AAA is asking motorists to adjust their driving habits in accordance with road conditions and to limit distractions. The risk of getting into an accident always increases in wet weather.

Winter Weather Driving Tips:

1. Slow down – control of your car is always going to be compromised when the roads are wet or icy. Minimize risk by reducing speed.

2. Increase following distance – It can take twice as long to stop when roads are wet as when they are dry.

3. Don’t use cruise control in wet weather driving conditions

4. Buckle up – the risk of an accident increases in wet weather. Seatbelts save lives.

5. Turn on headlights – make sure headlights, tail lights and brake lights are all in working order, not just so you can see, but so you can also be seen by others.

“Even though we’re not expecting serious accumulation, drivers should be aware there’s still an increased risk for serious accidents.” Parmenter says.

You can find more tips about winter driving on the AAA website.

Photo by BryanAlexander, via flickr creative commons