MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - With the hazardous driving conditions and the large amount of snow accumulating on the ground, Meridian Township has declared a snow emergency.

Township ordinance gives the Police Chief the ability to declare such an emergency when ice or snow accumulates at a rapid speed causing dangerous travel conditions.

The purpose of a snow emergency is to get vehicles off the streets to minimize accidents and allow for emergency vehicles and snow plows to get down streets.

Until the snow emergency is lifted, residents must move parked vehicles off primary streets within 6 hours and local streets with 24 hours.

Police Chief Dave Hall also reminds residents to ensure sidewalks are cleared of snow.

Residents are recommended to stay off the streets as driving conditions worsen. If you must drive, AAA offers these safe driving tips:

-Accelerate and decelerate slowly.
-Drive slowly.
-The normal dry pavement following distance of three to four seconds should be increased to eight to ten seconds.
-Know your brakes. If you have anti-lock brakes (ABS) and need to slow down quickly, press hard on the pedal-it’s normal for the pedal to vibrate a bit when the ABS is activated. In cars without ABS, use “threshold” breaking, keeping your heel on the floorboard and using the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal.
-Don’t stop if you can avoid it. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do it.
-Don’t power up hills.
-Don’t stop going up a hill.
-Stay home. If you really don’t have to go out, don’t.

It is also recommended you have a emergency car kit which would include an ice scraper, jumper cables, flashlight, blanket, water, first aid kit, and anything else that may be useful in the case of an emergency.