Now that New York has seen its first few snowfalls of the season, it’s always good to have a refresher when it comes to driving in snowy and icy conditions. According to AAA, about 46% of crashes involving bad weather happen during the winter months.
Here’s what to know about winter driving.
Tips for driving in the snow this winter
To stay safe while driving in the snow this winter, consider following these tips provided by AAA:
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Accelerate and decelerate slowly. To regain traction and avoid skids, apply the gas slowly to accelerate and remember it takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
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Increase your following distances. Since the normal dry pavement following distance is 3-4 seconds, you should increase that to 8-10 seconds in winter weather to create the longer distance needed in case you need to stop.
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Know your brakes. The best way to stop is threshold braking — keeping the heel of your foot on the floor and using the ball of your foot to apply firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal — whether you have antilock brakes or not.
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Stay home if possible. If you really don’t have to go out when there’s bad winter road conditions, don’t.
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Avoid driving when visibility is poor. If you have to drive, keep your speed low, use your low-beam headlights and pull off to a safe spot if conditions get worse.
What not to do while driving in winter weather
AAA says to avoid these hazardous driving methods to ensure safe travels throughout the winter season:
Don’t power up hills
To stay safe while driving in the snow in New York this winter, consider following these tips from AAA.
Applying extra gas on snow-covered roads could just make your wheels spin. Instead, try gaining a bit of inertia before reaching the hill, letting it get you to the top, and then reduce your speed as soon as you reach the crest of the hill and proceed downhill as slowly as possible.
Don’t continue driving at the same speed you’d travel at in clear, dry conditions
Your tire traction is greatly reduced in rainy, snowy and icy conditions so you should slow down to regain the traction lost during winter weather.
Don’t brake and turn at the same time or be rough with your steering and braking
Brake first, then turn, then accelerate. Don’t slam on the brakes, either, as it can increase your chance of skidding and make sure you’re gentle with your steering and acceleration, too. If you do skid, continue to look and steer your vehicle in the direction you want to go.
Don’t follow behind vehicles as closely as you would in clear, dry conditions
Your vehicle can’t slow down as quickly on slippery roads so it’s important to increase your following distances to a minimum of 5-6 seconds and to keep an open space to at least one side of your vehicle in case you need to make an emergency lane change maneuver.
Stock your car with these items in the winter months
If you find yourself stuck in your car during a winter weather event, it’s good to have these emergency supplies on hand:
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Snow shovel, ice scraper and broom
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Warning devices, such as flares or emergency markers
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A flashlight and portable radio
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Blankets and extra warm clothes
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Abrasive material such as sand or kitty litter in case your vehicle gets stuck in the snow
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Cell phone with a charger
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Water, food and any necessary medicine
What to do if you get stuck in the snow
If you find yourself stuck in the snow this winter, here’s what AAA recommends you do:
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Clear a path of several feet in front of your wheels by driving forward and backwards or shoveling.
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Shift to drive (or second gear for vehicles with manual transmissions) with your wheels pointed straight to minimize rolling resistance and apply gentle pressure to the accelerator without spinning the wheels.
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Use traction mats, kitty litter or another abrasive material if more traction is needed and keep people from standing directly in front of or behind the wheels.
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If you’re still stuck, try rocking your vehicle out of the rut by applying your accelerator slowly in low gear, releasing it when you stop moving forward and re-applying when you stop rolling backward. Repeat this in rapid succession using minimum power to avoid spinning your wheels, which will only dig you deeper into the snow.
If you go off the road, AAA says to stay calm and in your car with your seatbelt on and be sure to call 911 if it’s an emergency.
If you’re stranded in your car, only get out of your car to clear the tailpipe of deep snow to ensure proper ventilation, according to AAA, and once you’re back inside, fasten your seatbelt again and keep your window cracked open a bit until help arrives.
Emily Barnes reports on consumer-related issues for the USA TODAY Network’s New York Connect Team, focusing on scam and recall-related topics. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @byemilybarnes. Get in touch at ebarnes@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Driving in snow? Here’s what to pack in your car this winter