NEW YORK — The tri-state area experienced its first snowfall of the season, leaving up to a foot of snow in some areas.
And although other parts of the region received more rain than snow, agencies, such as the New Jersey State Police, are asking drivers to take precautions when driving due to black ice can form on road surfaces.
“Be alert for black ice. In these conditions, reduce speed, do not use cruise control, and keep enough distance between yourself and other vehicles. Give plowing and spreading trucks plenty of room to work,” the Department of Transportation said. New Jersey State Police on their social networks.
For this reason, it is essential to take careful measures when driving during the winter season, especially on bad weather days. Here we bring you some recommendations from the AAA.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DRIVING DURING A WINTER STORM
- Stay home: The best way to deal with bad weather is to avoid it. All unnecessary driving can wait.
- Drive slowly: Posted speed limits are for ideal conditions. It can take up to nine times longer for a vehicle to stop in snow and ice compared to clear conditions. Drivers should reduce speed to account for reduced traction.
- Accelerate and decelerate slowly: Smooth driving helps prevent loss of vehicle control.
- Increase your following distance: Leave at least five to six seconds of following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front. This space allows time to stop safely if the other driver brakes suddenly.
- Know your brakes: No matter the type of brakes on a vehicle, the best braking technique is to keep the heel of your foot on the floor and use the ball of your foot to apply firm, constant pressure on the brake pedal.
- Don’t stop if you can help it: There is a big difference in the amount of energy it takes to start moving from a complete stop in the snow compared to what it takes to keep rolling. If you can slow down enough to keep rolling until a traffic light changes, do so.
- Don’t be fooled by all-wheel drive: Almost all SUVs and trucks have all-wheel drive, which provides superior traction when accelerating in poor driving conditions. But because of their extreme weight, vehicles can take much longer to stop with little traction. Driving slowly in the snow is the best advice regardless of the type of vehicle.
- Use traction control: Many modern vehicles are equipped with traction control that limits tire spin and helps maintain control.
- If you get stuck, don’t spin your tires: A common scene during a snowstorm is that of a driver trying to get out of a traffic jam. Spinning the tires can overheat the transmission and cause it to fail. He carries a shovel and digs his way out of the jam.
Many drivers neglect to have an emergency kit for winter driving.
KEY ITEMS TO CARRY IN THE CAR
AAA recommends always carrying the following items in a vehicle to withstand challenging weather conditions:
- Cell phone and car charger
- First aid box
- Things
- Drinking water/snacks for everyone in the car, including pets.
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Rags, paper towels or pre-moistened towels
- Basic tool set that includes masking tape and warning devices such as flares or reflectors.
- Ice scraper/snow brush
- Jumper cables or portable jump starter
- Traction aid, such as sand or non-clumping cat litter
- Canvas, raincoat and gloves.
- Pala
2024-01-07 14:44:57
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