Weather Alert: Not Safe to Drive

DENVER (April 10, 2019) – With blizzard warnings in effect for Denver, Fort Collins, Greeley, Castle Rock and much of northeastern Colorado, motorists take note: It is never safe to drive in a blizzard. 65-mile-per-hour wind gusts and blowing snow will severely limit visibility and make road travel extremely dangerous, if not impossible, throughout much of the state. Closures are likely along the I-25, I-70, and I-76 corridors.   

AAA Colorado will be fully staffed with essential personnel, and our emergency roadside assistance fleet will be out in full force. High call volume, treacherous conditions, heavy traffic, and road closures will sharply increase response times. Moreover, emergency assistance vehicles are only able to rescue stranded motorists on open, maintained roads. If a roadway is closed by an authority, AAA vehicles can not legally and will not traverse it to provide emergency roadside assistance. The bottom line: The only surefire way to stay safe during this storm is to stay inside and avoid driving.  AAA Colorado will be working in tandem with local governments and emergency personnel throughout the storm. Stranded motorists should follow local emergency guidance. 

Hazardous storms and inclement weather are a factor in half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. AAA implores Coloradans to avoid driving. If you must drive, slow down, be cautious, and prepare for worst-case conditions. Before heading out, visit  CoTrip.org for the latest road conditions. Remember, roads that might be open when you begin your drive may very well close before you can reach your destination.

AAA is encouraging drivers to be prepared and offers the below tips. 

Winter Driving Kit

• Do not leave your house without an emergency kit with tire chains, abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter, small shovel, flashlight with extra batteries, ice scraper, rags or paper towels, flares or other warning devices, booster cables and a first aid kit.
• Bring blankets, jackets, hats and gloves for you and your passengers
• Pack waters and snacks, such as energy bars, and bring pet food if you’re traveling with four-legged friends.
• Charge your mobile phone before you hit the road.
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AAA Tips when Your Car Gets Stuck

• Stay in the vehicle: If you leave your vehicle, you will become disoriented quickly in wind-driven snow and cold.
• Conserve gas: Run the motor about 10 minutes each hour for heat.
• Breathe easy: While running the motor, open the window a little for fresh air to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Clear snow from the exhaust pipe regularly. 
• Be visible to rescuers: Turn on the dome light at night when running the engine. Tie a bright colored cloth, preferably red, to your antenna or door. After the snow stops falling, raise the hood to indicate you need help.  
• If you are a AAA member: Call us (1-800-AAA-HELP), download the mobile app, or request service online in order to receive emergency roadside assistance. 
• Have your membership card and ID ready.
• Allow us to confirm the year, make, and model and location of your vehicle.
• Allow us to confirm the nature of the breakdown so we can send the appropriate resources to properly service your vehicle

AAA Safe-Driving Tips for Slick or Icy Roadways

• Slow down: Accelerate, turn, and brake gradually. Adjust your speed to the road conditions and leave yourself ample room to stop. Allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
• Don’t tailgate: Normal following distances of three to four seconds on dry pavement should be extended to a minimum of eight to ten seconds when driving on slippery surfaces. The extra time will provide additional braking room should a sudden stop become necessary.
• Watch the traffic ahead: Slow down immediately at the sight of brake lights, fishtailing cars, sideways skids, or emergency flashers ahead.
• Avoid unnecessarily changing lanes: This increases the chance of hitting a patch of ice between lanes that could cause loss of vehicle control.
• Use extreme caution on bridges and overpasses: Black ice typically forms first in shaded areas of the roadway and on bridges and overpasses that freeze first and melt last. Although the road leading up to a bridge may be fine, the bridge itself could be a sheet of ice.
• Move over: Move over one lane for law enforcement and emergency roadside assistance personnel assisting motorists. It’s the law. If you can’t move over, slow down.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed down hill as slowly as possible.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road.

If you lose power at home:

• Close off unused rooms to consolidate and retain heat.
• Wear layered clothing and use blankets or sleeping bags to stay warm.
• Never use generators or outdoor heating or cooking equipment, like a grill or propane heater, indoors. It presents a fire risk and will expose you and your family to dangerous carbon monoxide.
• Never heat your home using the stove or oven. If you use a generator, keep it outside in a well-ventilated area at least 20 feet away from any door, window or vent.
• Limit your time outdoors. If you must go outside, dress in layers and cover up any exposed skin to protect against frostbite. If your clothes get wet, replace them with dry ones.
• Know how to recognize hypothermia. Warning signs in adults include shivering, exhaustion, confusion, slurred speech, memory loss and fumbling hands. In infants, signs include bright red and cold skin and low energy.
• If you’re losing heat and don’t think you can make it until the power returns, head to a relief shelter if you can make it safely. You can locate the nearest shelter by texting “SHELTER” and your ZIP code – for example, “SHELTER10001” – to 43362 (4FEMA).

About AAA Colorado

More than 685,000 members strong, AAA Colorado is the state’s most-trusted advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. As North America’s largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 59 million members with travel, insurance, financial, and automotive-related services – as well as member-exclusive savings. For more information, visit AAA.com.