Some helpful winter driving tips from the New
York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT):
- Never follow a snowplow too closely or attempt to pass one. Remember that the highway ahead of the plow is usually snow-covered;
- Adjust speed for road conditions and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles;
- Schedule extra time for winter travel and be patient during ice and snow removal operations;
- Assume that bridge surfaces are slippery, as they freeze more quickly than road surfaces;
- Watch for black ice, which can be difficult to see but makes conditions slippery when pavement temperatures are below freezing;
- Have a cell phone handy, if possible, but do not text while driving; distracted driving is illegal and becomes even more dangerous during storm events;
- Never venture from your vehicle if snowbound;
- Equip your car with emergency supplies including sand, shovel, flares, booster cables, rope, ice scraper, portable radio, flashlight, blankets and extra warm clothes;
- Inform a responsible person of your destination, intended route, and estimated time of arrival; and
- Keep calm and do not panic in case of a vehicle breakdown, accident, or if you become snowbound.
When encountering a snowplow on the roadway, remember that:
- Snowplows have limited visibility and drivers cannot see directly behind their trucks.
- Snowplows often throw up clouds of snow behind them, reducing visibility for drivers following behind them.
- Motorists should NEVER attempt to pass a moving snowplow on the right. With new wing plows and tow plows, the blade can clear the shoulder and the lane of travel simultaneously.
- Motorists attempting an illegal pass through a snow cloud on the right and/or shoulder of the road most likely won’t see the plow blade and run the risk of a serious crash.
- The most important thing motorists can do during inclement weather is to slow down and be extra cautious.
In addition to following these safety tips, motorists can visit the Department’s website www.dot.ny.gov/programs/driver-safety for informative safety applications. The site features an interactive safe driving experience that includes tips for driving safely in winter weather conditions, a video demonstrating the proper method for steering out of a skid, a winter driving quiz and a video that allows visitors to experience the conditions snowplow operators face each winter.