Press release:
The New York State Police is advising motorist to avoid any unnecessary driving during the winter storm that is forecast to bring a significant amount of snow and -25 degrees below zero temperatures across the Western New York Wednesday into Thursday evening.
Troopers will be out checking all major routes of travel to ensure that motorists are as safe as possible and working with local Emergency Operations Centers as needed. The State Police need your assistance to make this possible.Motorists traveling in areas impacted by the snow are asked to leave with extra time to make a slow and careful drive to your destination. Take into consideration snow accumulation on the roads, the current snowfall rate, the wind, and visibility. Use your best judgment to determine if driving is prudent.
Keep the following tips in mind:
- Get the latest weather forecast before leaving with your local weather apps, monitor radio or TV stations.
- Always clean your windows and mirrors FULLY of any snow and ice before driving.
- Keep a full tank of gas.
- Fluid levels are sufficient ( windshield washer fluid, anti-freeze).
- Spare tire is sufficient and you have the jack and wheel wrench.
- Use headlights at all times to increase your visibility to others. Remember, if your windshield wipers are in use due to weather, then your headlights must be on.
- Drive prudently. If the conditions are adverse, you should decrease your speed accordingly.
- Brake early.
- Do NOT use cruise control. This decreases your reaction time to apply braking.
- Look out for events farther down the road. Creating more time to react can make a difference.
- Be aware of maintenance vehicles and emergency vehicles. Give them room to work.
- If you do not absolutely have to go out on the roads, then don’t.
If you do go out, is your vehicle prepared?
- Is your trunk supplied to help you to be safe in case you are stopped or stranded in an area without assistance readily available?
- Gloves, blankets, warmers, tool kit, first-aid kit, nonperishable foods, water, working flashlight and batteries, cell phone charger, etc.
- Shovel, ice scraper, de-icer, snow brush, rock salt or cat litter, tow chain or cable, jumper cables or battery charger, etc.
If you are involved in a collision or leave the roadway:
If you drive off the roadway and are stuck in a snow bank or ditch, stay in your vehicle and call 9-1-1. DO NOT exit your vehicle unless it is an absolute emergency. You put yourself at risk of being struck by another vehicle.
Roll your windows down a few inches or turn your vehicle off if you are stranded in snow for a period of time with your vehicle running. Covered mufflers can cause serious physical injury or death due to inhalation of carbon monoxide.
If you should become stranded on the Thruway or any roadway, know your location by being aware of your direction and mile post marker. This will help emergency personnel reach your location as quick as possible.
Follow the New York State Police's Twitter page @nyspolice for up-to-the-minute information on road closures and weather alerts.
The Thruway Authority provides a wide variety of information for travelers including current traffic conditions, accidents, and lane closures. Visit www.thruway.ny.gov for more information.
Slow down. Be prepared. Be safe.
"Remember, if your windshield
"Remember, if your windshield wipers are in use due to weather, then your headlights must be on."
Back in the mid-2000's, I left my workplace to drive home.
It was @ 4 PM, and it was lightly "sprinkling" out - not heavily, but, it was raining, nonetheless.
I was driving a late-90's car that had a "glitch" in the headlight switch. I had found that, if I pulled the headlight switch only three-quarters of the way on, the headlights would be on, but, the taillights would still be off. I had to pull the switch completely on for the taillights to work.
I was on 490 west in Gates, near the airport exit, when a NYS trooper pulled me over (he approached me from behind - he had never been in front of me).
He told me he was stopping me because my headlights weren't on (while my windshield wipers were on) - NY state law is, when your wipers are on, you're required to have your headlights on too.
I told him my headlights WERE on, and, had been since I left work.
He said, "No, when I came up behind you, your lights weren't on."
Again, I told him my headlights were on, and, had been on. I reminded him that nothing in the NYS vehicle code requires taillights to be on when using windshield wipers.
(Now, mind you, it was still sprinkling out, with hundreds of people traveling on an extremely wet 490, tossing up "road spray" on the trooper).
Anyhow, he said my taillights weren't on when he came up behind me.
I told him NY traffic law doesn't say my taillights need to be on when it's raining - only my headlights need to be on.
Of course, he said that, because my taillights weren't on, my headlights weren't either.
This "argument" went back-and-forth for quite a while.
I told him he was wrong. I AGAIN reminded him that nothing in the NY vehicle code requires taillights to be on when windshield wipers are required.
I said, "If you check, you'll find that my headlights ARE on, but, my taillights aren't. I also told him, if you want, I'll keep my hands outside my window while you go check my lights, just so you don't think I'm messing with them.
(By this time, he'd been out there close to ten minutes - and, he was pretty much soaked).
He walked back and looked at my taillights (which weren't on), then walked to the front to check on the headlights.
Finally he came back and said he didn't understand how my headlights could be on if my taillights weren't.
I simply said something like "I don't know what to tell you. It is what it is."
I would have loved to be at his headquarters, when he told/asked his co-workers about it.