Use Extreme Caution when driving in Major Storms

Severe thunderstorms moved through north Georgia for two straight days this week. The storms brought heavy rains and strong winds, which created dangerous driving conditions, with little to no visibility.  When major storms strike, AAA urges motorists to heed official warnings and stay off the roads, if possible.  AAA offers these driving safety tips during major storms.  Check traffic and weather conditions before heading out.  Always wear your safety belt.  Rainy conditions can cause low visibility: Turn on your headlights to help you see better and to allow other motorists to spot you. Avoid using your high beams because you could blind other drivers and the extra light will reflect off the rain, causing more of a distraction for you.  If you can’t see the edges of the road or other vehicles at a safe distance while driving during wet weather, pull off the road as far as you can and wait for the rain to ease up. Make sure to turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers when stopped but not while driving as it is a distraction to fellow motorists.  Avoid standing water and flooded roads at all times. There is no way to tell how deep standing water is on a flooded road and driving through it can cause a vehicle to stall and result in severe damage to the vehicle from flooding the engine to warping brake rotors to loss of power steering to a short in electrical components.  If your vehicle stalls in a flooded area, do not remain in the car. Abandon it as soon as possible and seek higher ground. Flood waters can elevate quickly, sweeping away the vehicle and its occupants.  If traffic signal lights are not working due to power failure, you must stop at the intersection and then proceed when you know other turning and approaching vehicles, bicycles, or pedestrians have stopped. A blacked-out traffic signal works the same as a four-way stop intersection.