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MONTGOMERY – Alabama weather can change – from warm and sunny to cold and icy – overnight. To be safe, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) urges motorists to be prepared, particularly when the forecast calls for wintry precipitation, and to use extreme caution when faced with icy roadways and other hazardous driving conditions.
If at all possible, motorists should avoid driving; but ALEA offers the following traffic safety tips for those who must travel in such weather:
- Monitor local news for information on weather conditions and travel advisories, and check road conditions athttps://algotraffic.com/.
- Report traffic crashes or other emergencies by calling 911 or using a cell phone to dial *HP (*47) to reach the nearest Highway Patrol post.
- Remain alert for emergency vehicles, and remember to obey Alabama’s “move over” law.
- Keep vehicles in good operating condition. Check antifreeze levels, use windshield washer solution suitable for freezing weather conditions and keep gas tanks at least half full.
- Remember weather and roadway conditions can deteriorate quickly. Adapt speeds to existing roadway conditions, and be alert to changing weather and the possibility of icy and slippery roads.
- During inclement weather, turn on headlights and windshield wipers, and maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and other vehicles.
- Pay attention to bridges and overpasses, which have a tendency to develop hazardous “black ice.”
- Keep blankets, first aid kit, charged cell phone and other emergency supplies in your vehicle.
Media Release/Jimmy Ward/ALEA
