How To Drive Safely During Winter Storms: 7 Tips From AAA

MICHIGAN — With a major winter storm expected to dump several inches of snow across southeastern Michigan, including 10 to 12 inches of snow in metro Detroit, the travel organization AAA is urging Buckeye State residents to avoid travel if they can.

The best way to keep yourself and your vehicle safe, AAA said, is to avoid traveling on snowy roads. Nearly 500,000 crashes annually are caused by adverse weather, and approximately 2,000 people are killed while driving during storms, according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

With much of southeastern Michigan under a winter storm warning, drivers can expect icy, snowy, windy conditions, and AAA wants Michiganders to stay home if at all possible. If you can't avoid traveling, here are AAA's tips for keeping you and your vehicle safe:

• Check your tire pressure, windshield wipers, fluid levels and lights before leaving.
• Make sure your gas tank is at least half full before leaving on any trip.
• Build extra time into any commute or travel plans.
• Drive slowly.
• Keep space between your vehicle and other vehicles on the road.
• Stop slowly. Do not slam on the brakes.
• If your vehicle starts to slide, take your feet off the pedals and focus your eyes on where you want to go instead of what you're trying to avoid.

"Emergency roadside assistance calls can double or triple during a winter storm, which means it will likely take help longer to get to you," AAA said in a statement.

Michiganders should assemble an emergency kit to keep in their vehicle, AAA added. The kit should include: blankets and extra clothes to stay warm, flashlights and extra batteries, an ice scraper, safety reflectors, a shovel, a first aid kit, a simple tool kit, water and non-perishable food, jumper cables and a mobile phone and charger to call for help.

The winter storm should taper off by Thursday night, according to current forecasts.