Pace Paw Print

Seventy percent of the approximately 12,670 Pace students, both undergraduate and graduate, commute to classes, meaning that many will drive to and from classes in sometimes questionable weather. To educate drivers on safe driving, AAA, the Weather Channel as well as a Pace staff member, have provided tips to keep safe on the winter roads.

"The best advice for driving in bad winter weather is not to drive at all," said The Weather Channel's official website, weather.com on its "Driving Safely Tips: Driving in Snow and Ice" webpage.

The webpage recommended at least waiting until the sand and snow plows have gone on the roads.

However, when driving in wintry weather cannot be avoided, the Dec. 2007 issue AAA New York Car & Travel Magazine's "Winter-Wise Road-Readiness Quiz," provides advice for driving on slippery roads.

The article warned that roads can be the iciest at 32 degrees, when a thin layer of water can form on ice, advising the reader to increase the distance between themselves and the car in front of them.

When going down an icy hill, the article said to press the brake pedal firmly with your toes or ball of your foot, while leaving your heel on the floor. If the car skids at any time, AAA recommended looking in the direction you want the car to travel in.

"By looking where you want to go, you can't help but steer properly to correct the skid," the article stated.

Regaining traction after a skid is key, according to AAA. However, in a back-wheel skid, it said drivers should press lightly on the accelerator.

The article acknowledged that distinguishing between a front and back wheel skid can be difficult and therefore recommended practicing in an empty, icy parking lot.

To get a stuck wheel free, the article recommended pressing lightly on the accelerator and then letting off in order to rock the car back in forth. Accelerating hard will cause the wheels to spin and dig deeper into the snow, warns AAA.

Vincent Beatty, Director of Pace's Safety and Security, agreed with the AAA tips and also suggested cleaning and defrosting the windows and removing as much snow and ice from the vehicle as possible before driving. He also said to check the tire pressure and fluid levels often.

Finally, weather.com recommends a list of several items to keep in your car in case of an emergency, such as jumper cables, a shovel, a flashlight with extra batteries and a scarf, blanket, gloves and hat to keep warm with.

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