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.
