AAA Offers Tips For Drivers Getting Back On The Road

Triple A has some tips for drivers as they prepare to hit the road again.

Whether you plan to get back on the roads tonight or play it safe and wait a while, you'll have to drive again.

AAA Oklahoma said you don't want to be a driver stuck on the side of the road.

"Those who have had experiences this past week with car issues, stranded on the side of the road, will tell you it's one of the scariest experiences you can have," said Leslie Gamble.

Leslie Gamble with AAA said you might be eager to hit the roads again. Before you drive off, you need to check your car first.

"First of all, you need to do a thorough check of your vehicle well before you have plans to go somewhere," said Gamble.

These are the tips AAA has to follow for the exterior of your car:  

1.  Be sure your vehicle is totally cleared of snow and ice before driving. Those who don’t may find that chunks become dangerous projectiles as they melt, and you resume driving at increased speeds. They can cause serious damage, flying off and hitting other vehicles.
2. Ice coated windshield/windows: NEVER pour hot water on windshield or windows, this can cause the glass to break. Use vehicle defrosters to melt ice for easier removal. Don’t use windshield wipers to remove ice – this will damage the blades.
3. Frozen windows: Do not continue to push the power window buttons if the window is frozen, it can damage the mechanics inside the door and can also cause the window to break.
4. Frozen locks: Never use water to thaw frozen locks, instead use commercial deicing products or heat the key and lock with a hair dryer. A lighter may also be used to heat the key. AAA assists members with stubborn lockouts.
5. Frozen windshield wipers: If windshield wipers are frozen to the windshield, use the heater and defroster to melt the ice before turning the windshield wipers on. If more precipitation is like after you arrive at your destination, remember to pull the windshield wipers away from the windshield to prevent refreezing.

Gamble said before it's time to go, check your car.

"Get in your car and start it. Make sure that battery is working," said Gamble.

These the tips AAA has to follow for the vehicle operations of your car:  

1. Before it’s time to go, make sure your vehicle starts. Most car batteries last three to five years, so if your battery is more than three years old, get it checked. They fail without warning and are 35% weaker even at 32 degrees. At zero degrees, a car’s battery loses 60% of its strength, yet the engine needs about twice as much power to start. AAA members can request help at work, home or on the road from a technician, if needed.
2.  Look for deflated tires. They lose about a pound of air for every five degrees in temperature drops below freezing. Don’t ignore the warning light. If it is on but tires aren’t flat, get to an air station or car care center to re-inflate them. Proper cold weather tire pressure can be found in the vehicle manual or on a sticker inside the driver’s door, not on the tire itself. 
3. Never leave a vehicle running in a closed garage without adequate ventilation, and don’t leave it running outdoors with keys or a key fob inside to avoid opportunistic thefts.
4. If your car is a 2007 or newer model, you DO NOT need to warm it up before driving. It takes only about 30 seconds for everything to turn and for the engine to be lubricated properly. In fact, actually driving your car is the best thing to do. Cars warm up faster when driving them than when stopped.

American Red Cross said now is a good time to refill those emergency kits.

"Update the flashlight batteries. Make sure you replace the food in it if it's perished already. Check the expiration dates, And refill it with water," said Linda Medford, American Red Cross.