With snow, ice, and sleet creating hazardous travel conditions, AAA – The Auto Club Group is urging drivers to take proactive steps to stay safe on winter roads. AAA notes winter weather can be deadly, citing U.S. Department of Transportation figures showing 1,300 people are killed and 116,000 injured each year in crashes on snowy or icy pavement.

“Winter driving hazards such as slick ice, snow-packed roads, and reduced traction make braking and steering treacherous,” said Montrae Waiters, spokeswoman for AAA – The Auto Club Group. Waiters said speeding, tailgating, and poorly maintained vehicles can make conditions worse, and encouraged drivers to prepare their cars with strong tires, a reliable battery, and proper fluid levels before heading out.

AAA recommends a winter maintenance check that includes monitoring tire pressure weekly and considering winter tires when appropriate, testing the battery because cold weather reduces power, and checking key fluids such as winter-grade washer fluid and antifreeze. Drivers should also replace worn wiper blades, confirm the heater and defroster are working, and inspect brakes and all exterior lights. AAA says drivers can also visit a AAA Car Care location or use its approved repair network to help ensure vehicles are winter-ready.

AAA says some of the most common reasons drivers need roadside assistance in winter include dead batteries, tire issues, vehicles sliding off the road or crashes, running out of fuel, and lockouts or frozen locks. The group encourages motorists to keep their gas tank from dropping below a quarter of a tank during severe weather because being stranded in freezing temperatures can turn into an emergency quickly.

If a driver becomes stranded, AAA recommends staying calm and making safety the priority. In many cases, drivers should remain inside the vehicle for shelter unless it becomes unsafe, turn on hazard lights, and call for help while sharing a GPS location. AAA advises running the engine sparingly—about 10 minutes per hour—and cracking a window for ventilation, while layering clothing, staying hydrated, conserving phone battery, and waiting for assistance.

Waiters also emphasized what to do if a vehicle stalls in traffic: turn on hazard lights, set the emergency brake, stay inside with doors locked, and call for roadside assistance. If staying in the vehicle creates danger, such as on a blind curve or in heavy traffic, AAA advises exiting carefully and moving to a safe location away from the roadway before calling for help.

AAA says roadside assistance can be requested through its mobile tools and also by texting “help” to 800-222-1134, and drivers should have a membership card and ID ready.

AAA also offered tips for electric vehicle drivers, warning that cold weather can significantly reduce EV range and slow charging. The group recommends preconditioning the battery while the vehicle is plugged in, keeping the vehicle plugged in overnight when possible, charging more frequently in winter, using Level 2 charging when available, and relying more on heated seats and steering wheel rather than blasting cabin heat to conserve energy.

Finally, AAA reminded drivers that tow operators and first responders work in dangerous roadside conditions during winter storms. Motorists are urged to follow Georgia’s Slow Down, Move Over law by slowing down and moving over a lane when approaching tow trucks, law enforcement, or emergency vehicles on the roadside.