Winter Reminders for NYC Drivers

Written by
Abraham Jaros
|
Updated on Tuesday, Oct 24, 2023

Winter is a dangerous time of year for drivers. And while we are more than happy to take on your car accident personal injury case, most of the time we’d rather everyone stay safe, happy, and healthy.

With the colder months on the way, we thought now would be a great time to offer some safety reminders and tips.

Sign Up for NY Alerts

NY Alerts lets you receive emergency, weather, and transportation alerts via phone, email, and text message. It can keep you from accidentally getting out on the road when a winter storm is on the way.

You can sign up at alert.ny.gov.

Get Your Vehicle Winter Ready

It’s time to check the following systems:

  • Tires
  • Brakes
  • Batteries
  • Windshield Wipers
  • Defrosters

You might consider putting winter tires on your car.

Place Winter Emergency Gear in Your Car

You never know when you might end up on the side of a snowy highway. Pack the following items into y our car:

  • Flashlights
  • Tire scrapers
  • Tire change kit
  • Spare tire
  • Booster cable
  • A small shovel
  • Kitty litter or sand for tires stuck in snow or mud
  • Hats
  • Blankets
  • Extra food and water
  • A few doses of necessary medication
  • Gloves
  • Flares

Run Your Headlights During the Day

Visibility is reduced during the winter months. It gets dim even in daytime. Make it a habit to drive with your headlights on even during the daylight hours. This is especially true during snowfall.

Warm Up Your Car

Don’t get on the road before your windshields are thoroughly defrosted and clear of any snow, ice, or debris. It may be tempting to do a partial defrost before racing to your next destination, but that can cause accidents.

In addition, as the ice and snow melt off your car it can fly off of the back of your car and onto someone else’s, obscuring their visibility.

Slow Down

Posted speed limits are for ideal travel conditions. On snowy, icy roads it’s sometimes best to go 20, perhaps even 30 miles under the speed limit.

Maintain More Car Lengths

In winter weather it’s important to leave more space between you and other cars. There’s less traction which means it can take longer to stop. Brake early, carefully, and smoothly.

Avoid Cruise Control

Cruise control isn’t meant for wintery conditions. Maintain manual control of your vehicle at all times.

Give Snowplows Space

Plows have a limited field of vision. You should leave 15 car lengths between you and any plows. The roads ahead of the plows will always be in worse condition than the roads in front of them, so resist the urge to pass. They will be moving very slow, but in many cases it’s a good idea for you to move snow with them. If you do pass a snowplow, leave lots of room.

Know What to Do If You Get into a Car Accident

Knowing how to protect yourself legally in the event of a car accident can make a huge difference if you end up needing to sue. Make sure you review our tips on what you should do after a car accident in New York.

If you get injured, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’ll be happy to provide you with a case review.

Get the advice and guidance you and your family need

You do not have to go through this alone.

At Jaroslawicz & Jaros, we have over 40 years of experience helping accident victims in New York recover compensation. The clients we represent benefit from the personal attention of our knowledgeable and experienced attorneys.

We Have Recovered Over $2 Billion for Our Clients.

The attorneys at Jaroslawicz & Jaros have obtained verdicts and settlements of over $1 Million for hundreds of our individual clients. Since all New York personal injury law firms generally charge the same legal fee why not hire an experienced law firm with a proven track record?

When you retain the New York City accident lawyers at Jaroslawicz & Jaros, you will always work directly with your lawyer, and not with a paralegal or secretary. We will always be available to you! Our hundreds of positive client reviews and testimonials speak for themselves.

Experience and a track record of results

Contact the attorneys at Jaroslawicz & Jaros for a free legal consultation regarding your rights and your legal options. If we agree to handle your case, we will work on a contingency fee basis so that you don’t have to worry about any upfront costs.

Contact us today for a free consultation

Picture of Abraham Jaros

You can reach partner Abraham Jaros directly, either call his cell 917-842-9544, or email him at ajaros@lawjaros.com. Or call Jaroslawicz & Jaros at 212 227 2780 in New York, or toll free 800-269-2780, or submit an online questionnaire.