Au Pairs in Montgomery County attended a class presented by AAA MidAtlantic on Winter Driving last year. Now we ask Au Pairs to review the AAA materials before the snow hits this weekend.

French Au Pairs holding APIA snow scrapers to keep in their purses.

“What great timing! I sent each of my Host Families and Au Pairs an Au Pair in America Ice Scraper to keep in car or purse – last week!!  No idea they would come in handy so soon,” said Victoria Paton, Au Pair in America Senior Community Counselor for the past 16 years in Potomac, Bethesda, Cabin John and Glen Echo.

Here is what AAA advises as we face 1-2 feet of snow:

BALTIMORE —With a blizzard watch in effect, AAA Mid-Atlantic is offering a checklist tips to ensure your vehicle is prepared for the snow.

AAA officials are urging motorists to stay off the roads until the storm has passed and the roads are plowed.

“If you have to be out, drive with caution and give road crews plenty of room to do their job safely,” says Ragina Cooper Averella, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic in a statement. “For everyone’s safety on the roads, drivers should allow plenty of extra time to properly clean off their vehicle before getting behind the wheel.”

AAA recommends motorists have an emergency kit prepared before you need it. This should include deicer, shovel, ice scraper, sand or kitty litter (for traction).

In addition, AAA offered these tips:

– Pack a blanket, extra gloves and hat, heavy coat

– Pack snacks, beverages, etc. and have them packed by the door to take in the morning (so they don’t freeze in the car overnight)

– Charge your cellphone and have a backup power source for the car in case you’re stuck for a while

– Make sure your windshield wipers and lights (headlights, taillights, turn signals) are working properly – make sure you can see and can be seen

– Keep a full tank of gas

AAA also offered the following tips for proper driving techniques in a winter storm:

– Wait for the roads to be plowed and treated before venturing out – road surface condition is the single most important safety factor during a winter weather event

– Thoroughly clean off your car and remove all snow and ice before driving anywhere.

– Warm the car up outside of the garage

– Drive slowly

– Increase following distances

– Accelerate and brake slowly as it takes longer to slow down on snowy, icy roads.

– Do not use cruise control and avoid tailgating – normal following distances of three to four seconds for dry pavement should be increased to eight to 10 seconds when driving on icy, slippery surfaces.

Regardless of whether the vehicle has front-, rear- or four-wheel drive, the best way to regain control if the front wheels skid is:

– Take your foot of the brake or accelerator and steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go.

– Avoid slamming on the brakes. Although hitting the brakes is a typical response, slamming the brakes will only further upset the vehicle’s balance and make it harder to regain control.

– Wait for the front wheels to grip the road again. As soon as traction returns, the vehicle will start to steer again.

– When the front wheels have regained their grip, steer the wheels gently in the desired direction of travel and begin to accelerate slowly.

– Use the “plant and steer” method with antilock brake systems. Do not remove your foot from the brake or pump the pedal. If you apply pressure and the wheels lock momentarily, you might feel the brake pedal pulse back against your foot. This is normal. Just hold the brake pedal down and steer. Pumping the pedal actually works against the system.