RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — With wet weather and heavy winds expected in Central Virginia on Sunday, AAA has provided tips to keep drivers safe.
Wet weather and gusty winds are anticipated for much of the region on Sunday, Dec. 9 as a powerful storm makes its way up the East Coast. The storm is expected to worsen Sunday afternoon and evening, battering the area with heavy rain and high winds.
In areas where flooded roadways are a concern, AAA provided the following tips:
- Turn Around, Don’t Drown! As little as six inches of water can cause drivers to lose control of vehicles and potentially stall engines. Do not attempt to drive through flooded roads. Turn around, find another way, or find a safe location.
- Seek higher ground: If the vehicle stalls or is suddenly caught in rising water, leave it immediately.
- Never drive through standing water: Standing water can be deceiving and motorists should avoid it. No matter how shallow it may appear, water may be concealing downed power lines, be deeper than it appears, or have significant force from flooding.
- Standing water may also be hiding potholes: Another good reason not to drive through it!
- Watch out for debris or downed wires on the roadways: If in a vehicle that is in contact with a downed power line, the best rule is to stay there until help arrives. If there is an imminent danger, such a fire, stand on the door frame or edge of the vehicle and jump clear with both feet at the same time. Do not make contact with anything on the vehicle so that your body does not become a pathway for the electricity to reach the earth.
- Take the nearest exit: If conditions worsen to the point where there are any safety concerns, exit the roadway. Don’t just stop on the shoulder or under a bridge unless it is unsafe to proceed otherwise. If your visibility is compromised, other drivers may be struggling too.
AAA provided the following wet-weather driving tips:
- Avoid cruise control. This feature works great in dry conditions, but when used in wet conditions, the chance of losing control of the vehicle can increase. To prevent loss of traction, the driver may need to reduce the car’s speed by lifting off the accelerator, which cannot be accomplished when cruise control is engaged. Avoiding cruise control will also allow the driver more options to choose from when responding to a potential loss-of-traction situation, thus maximizing your safety. Cruise control can also cause hydroplaning.
- Watch for hydroplaning: No car is immune from hydroplaning on wet surfaces, including four-wheel drive vehicles. With as little as 1/12 inch of water on the road, tires have to displace a gallon of water per second to keep the rubber meeting the road. Drivers should reduce their speed to correspond to the amount of water on the roadway.
- Be wary of changing wind conditions: Wind gusts often accompany stormy weather. Larger trucks are more affected by high winds, so give them plenty of room on the roadways.
- Pay Attention to emergency alerts: Alerts are provided by the National Weather Service to mobile phones with no sign up required. Adding the National Weather Service to a mobile phone home screen can also make more detailed local information easier to find.
- Make yourself visible: If you are forced to stop in traffic due to poor visibility, turn on emergency flashers immediately.
- Slow down, move over: With wet pavement conditions, it’s important for drivers to allow ample stopping distance between cars by increasing the following distance of the vehicle in front of them and beginning to slow down to stop for intersections, turns and other traffic early. In addition, drivers need to slow down and move over for roadside workers, including emergency roadside service and first responders, law enforcement and construction workers, as well as stalled vehicles. Maryland’s and Virginia’s Move Over law includes ALL stationary vehicles on the side of the road, displaying hazard lights. Virginia’s Move Over law recently expanded this summer to include stationary vehicles, as well.
- Remember to make sure your severe weather emergency kit is fully stocked and in your vehicle before the storm arrives.
AAA also provided a list of recommended items to add to a severe weather emergency kit:
- Fully charged cell phone and car charger
- First-aid kit
- Blanket
- Flashlight with extra fresh batteries
- Rags, paper towels or pre-moistened wipes
- Emergency warning devices such as road flares or reflectors
- Jumper cables
- Drinking water/snacks for everyone in the car, including pets
