AAA Mid-Atlantic is offering five tips for drivers striving to cope with the snowstorm expected to bury much of Maryland over the weekend. It's good -- and not always obvious -- advice.

AAA Mid-Atlantic’s top five last minute, common sense tips:

 • Dress as if you were going to be stranded. – It can get very cold in a car on the side of the road waiting for help. Be sure to have extra blankets and to insist that children who may be traveling with you do the same.

• Open the garage door before starting the car to prevent carbon monoxide build up. - It is easy to lose track of time and carbon monoxide is almost impossible to detect and can be fatal when inhaled in a confined area.

 • Bring your vehicle clearing supplies, such as your ice scraper, snow shovels, and deicer spray, inside. –Even the best prepared motorists are sometimes frustrated to wake up and find all of their supplies frozen inside the car.

• Check your antifreeze to ensure it will withstand the winter cold, using a 50/50 mixture of coolant and water to protect against freezing.

• Never pour hot water on door locks or windows to deice them, as they may crack. Frozen door locks can be overcome by carefully heating the end of a key with a match or lighter. A squirt of de-icer spray is another quick method.

Of course, the best advice at all in a Baltimore snowstorm is: Stay home  until the roads are clear.