Road Service Call Volumes Remain High, Says AAA Michigan
5 January 1999
Road Service Call Volumes Remain High, Says AAA Michigan DEARBORN, Mich., Jan. 4 -- The first day back to work after
this weekend's storm continues to bring hundreds of calls from motorists for
Emergency Road Service (ERS), according to AAA Michigan.
Between midnight Sunday, (Jan. 3) and 11 a.m. today (Jan. 4), AAA Michigan
ERS trucks had helped 1,357 stranded motorists across Michigan. A normal 24-
hour period averages 1,500 to 2,000 calls.
Here are the totals of motorists helped by AAA Michigan Emergency Road
Service drivers this weekend: between midnight Friday (Jan. 1) and midnight
Saturday, (Jan. 2), 3,721; between 12:01 a.m. Sunday and midnight Sunday,
(Jan. 3), 2,716.
Although road conditions have improved steadily, motorists should be sure
to follow these driving tips:
* Improve visibility by clearing snow and ice from the entire car.
* Drive with headlights on low-beam.
* Accelerate slowly so wheels don't spin.
* Anticipate traffic lights and potential dangers. Adjust your speed,
increase stopping distance between cars and change lanes to avoid trouble.
* Avoid hard braking. The best technique is "threshold," or "squeeze"
braking. Apply the brakes firmly to a point just short of lock-up, then ease
off the pedal slightly. Steady pressure is better than pumping the brakes. If
your car has antilock brakes, apply continuous, firm pressure.
* In a skid, ease off the accelerator and don't lock up the brakes.
Carefully steer in the direction you want to go and straighten the wheel as
soon as the car starts heading in the desired direction.
* Carry a winter survival kit consisting of: a cellular phone; small bag
of abrasive material such as sand, salt or cat litter for traction; a snow
shovel; snow brush; traction mats; flashlight; booster cables, blanket and
appropriate winter clothing, including boots.
* If you become stranded, be sure to keep the exhaust tail pipe clear of
snow. Run the engine no longer than it takes to provide heat.
