With a winter storm warning in effect for Lower Hudson Valley Friday, Dec. 26, it’s important to know how to stay safe if you must venture out onto the road.
“Travel could be very difficult. The hazardous conditions could impact the Friday evening commute,” the warning reads. “If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Check local Department of Transportation information services for the latest road conditions.”
Some areas of the Lower Hudson Valley could see up to 9 inches of snow Friday.
Stay safe on the roads during winter weather
If you have to hit the road, try these safety tips from the NHTSA and AAA:
Winter driving tips from NYS Department of Transportation
Many of the tips from the New York State Department of Transportation will be familiar, as they are best practices also suggested by AAA and NHTSA.
Their main message to drivers during the winter: “don’t crowd the plow.”
“Stay well behind a plow — up to eight car lengths! — where the road is freshly plowed,” the NYSDOT website says. “It’s the safest place to drive!
“Plows are big and have many blind spots. A plow truck loaded with salt weighs more than 10 tons. Their size and weight makes it difficult to maneuver or stop quickly.”
Active plow trucks can kick up clouds of snow that hamper visibility for drivers in nearby lanes. “They can also create ridges of snow in between lanes that make changing lanes challenging,” the NYSDOT says.
Motorists can also check out 511NY.org to see current travel conditions before headed out. The website, also available as a free mobile app for your smartphone, features a winter travel advisory system and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. A statewide map shows info about winter road conditions, such as which state roads are still snow covered, wet, dry or closed, as reported by snow plow drivers.
Learn more at dot.ny.gov/programs/safe-winter-driving.
Contributing: lohud’s Peter Carr, Ashley Fontones
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: As winter weather arrives in NY, here’s how to stay safe on the roads
Reporting by Michael P. McKinney, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
