The weather forecast for the weekend may be telling us to just stay home but, with the Family Day holiday here, many people have plans and some of them involve driving.

The Alberta Motor Association has some advice for keeping you, your family, and your fellow motorists safe as you hit the road for the weekend.  Wayne McLachlan is the Chief Instructor for Driver Education in the South Region with AMA.  He says winter driving preparation should actually begin before you get on the road.

"First of all, check the road report to make sure it's actually safe to leave your home to travel to your destination.  The second most important thing is to think about how you're going to manage your journey."

McLachlan then gives us some advice on just how we should do that.  "Reduce your speed, because of the road conditions, increase your following distance with other traffic that you're sharing the road with, look well ahead for any potential hazards you might experience so you have more time to do things like reducing your speed, braking if necessary.  

Have 360-degree awareness if you have to slow down, what's happening with the traffic to your sides and behind you as well as what's in front of you.  If the snow is blowing, always a good idea to use your low beam headlights, just to help improve your visibility,  If you're making any lane changes, make them gently so if you have a build up of snow between lanes you're not getting your tires caught in it and it's going to cause you to go into a skid or catapult you across the lane into another vehicle."

We're always hearing about road safety kits and McLachlan says to have one is a great idea.  He says there are some essentials that need to be packed into one.

"One thing you want to make sure you have is adequate warm clothing if your vehicle should become stranded on the shoulder of the road somewhere and you have to stay with it for a significant period of time.  So warm boots, mitts, heavy jacket, some kind of head covering.  Keep some non-perishable food, a candle with some kind of a can to put it in and some matches just for any warmth.  If you happen to put your vehicle into the ditch, and you have to stay with it, just make sure that the snow you put your vehicle into didn't block your tailpipe if you have to run your vehicle.  Crack your window a little bit and run your vehicle intermittently for about 10 minutes every so often just to keep the chill out of the air."

McLachlan says blankets, a road flare or triangles and reflective armbands or a reflective vest in case you need to be outside your vehicle in the event of a roadside emergency are also good items to have in your kit.  

If you're stranded in a remote area where there isn't a lot of traffic, McLachlan tells you to stay with your vehicle.  "Your cell phone is another critical piece of equipment so that you can call somebody for help.  Oftentimes what happens is when people see a light in the distance and decide to walk for help, especially if the weather is blizzardy or very cold, often people perish trying to walk away from their vehicle thinking that they're going to find help to get them out of trouble.

McLachlan's final bit of advice.  "Just plan ahead.  Think ahead.  Just be as proactive as you can to keep yourself and your family safe."

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