ATLANTA — A serious winter storm is impacting many parts of Georgia with a mixture of snow, sleet, ice and rain causing travel headaches for many motorists.

Georgia state leaders are encouraging anyone who is not an essential worker to work remotely, if possible.

“If you must drive in snow, use common sense,” said Montrae Waiters, AAA-The Auto Club Group spokeswoman for Georgia. “Keep your speed down, stay alert, keep your distance from other vehicles and watch for slick spots and patches of ice.”

AAA recommends the following tips while driving in snowy and icy conditions:

• Stay home. Only go out if necessary. Even if you can drive well in bad weather, it’s better to avoid taking unnecessary risks by venturing out.
• Drive slowly. Always adjust your speed down to account for lower traction when driving on snow or ice.
• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Apply the gas slowly to regain traction and avoid skids. Don’t try to get moving in a hurry and take time to slow down for a stoplight. Remember: It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Increase your following distance to five to six seconds. This increased margin of safety will provide the longer distance needed if you have to stop.
• Know your brakes. Whether you have antilock brakes or not, keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it. There’s a big difference in the amount of inertia it takes to start moving from a full stop versus how much it takes to get moving while still rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads will just make your wheels spin. Try to get a little inertia going before you reach the hill and let that inertia carry you to the top. As you reach the crest of the hill, reduce your speed and proceed downhill slowly.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse than trying to get moving up a hill on an icy road. Get some inertia going on a flat roadway before you take on the hill.

“It is also important to make sure your headlights and taillights are functioning properly. Snowy conditions can make it difficult for other drivers to see you, so having fully functional lights is crucial for safety,” according to AAA.

Due to the winter storm, many schools across Georgia have either canceled on Wednesday or switched to distant learning.

“Winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter,” according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety.

What to Do in a Winter Emergency

AAA advises motorists to follow guidance from local authorities during winter weather and, when possible, stay home even after the storm passes.

If you must be on the roads, AAA recommends:

• Be prepared by having your vehicle inspected by a AAA Approved Auto Repair facility before hitting the road to ensure everything is in good working order.
• Check the weather at your starting point, along your route, and at your destination. If bad weather is expected at any point, if possible, delay your trip until conditions improve.
• Stay connected by notifying your friends and family of your route, destination, and estimated time of arrival.
• Slow Down, Move Over when you see first responders, roadside technicians, tow providers, or stranded drivers along the side of the road. Winter conditions make the road more dangerous than usual, and staying alert keeps everyone safe.

If you are stranded while traveling in winter weather, AAA recommends the following:

• Stay with your vehicle since it provides temporary shelter and makes it easier for rescuers to locate you.
• Do not try to walk in a severe storm since it is easy to lose sight of your vehicle and get lost in blowing snow. Also, passing vehicles may not be able to see you.
• Don’t overexert yourself trying to push or dig your vehicle out of the snow.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth to the antenna or place a cloth at the top of a rolled-up window to signal distress. At night, keep the dome light on if possible. It only uses a small amount of electricity and will make it easier for rescuers to find you.
• Make sure the exhaust pipe isn’t clogged with snow, ice, or mud. A blocked exhaust could cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to leak into the vehicle when the engine is running.
• Use whatever is available to insulate your body from the cold. If you don’t have an emergency kit with extra coats and blankets, you may use floor mats or other similar items. The point is to stay warm.
• If possible, run the engine and heater just long enough to remove the chill and conserve gasoline.