We are fortunate here in Georgia to see very little in the way of ice and snow. So, little that some choose to retire here away from the necessity of shoveling driveways and snowplows.

However, this weekend looks like it is already shaping up to be the exception. As of press time on Thursday, the National Weather Service was still warning of possible snow. Whether that snow ends out sticking or not (or if it falls at all) the below freezing temperatures combined with several days of wet weather make ice on the roads a definite danger.

Icy roads are dangerous to those raised up north just as much as those of us born and raised in the south, but here in Georgia, where we might see freezing temperatures for a few weeks out of the year, there are significantly fewer snowplows, salt trucks and other equipment that can clear the road.

Over the next few days, everyone is encouraged to slow down while driving and remember not to avoid driving over areas where there is sometimes standing water after rain.

AAA offers the following winter driving tips:

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly. Remember — it takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Don’t power up hills. Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads just starts your wheels spinning.
• Don’t stop going up a hill. There’s nothing worse then 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.
• Stay home. If you don’t really have to go out, don’t.

Whatever you do, be careful over the next few days and leave yourself plenty of time to get where you are going. You’ll be glad you did.