6 Essential Winter Driving Tips For Everyone In New York

Winter in New York means slick roads and tough commutes for millions of drivers. While most people have extensive experience driving in the elements, every year, thousands of accidents happen due to the slippery conditions.

If people are taught how to drive in the snow, it seems like those lessons are quickly forgotten once you hit the roads anywhere in the Empire state. People drive like it’s 75 degrees with the sun shining when it’s 18 degrees and snowing. It’s dangerous, and quite frankly mind-boggling, that so many people do not adjust to the conditions. People don't just get in accidents; they can die because of reckless and unnecessary driving.

Growing up in the Southtowns of Western New York, my father taught me a lot about driving in snow. The main lesson was to always pay attention, or as he put it, “connect brain when operating vehicle.” He would say this as he handed me the keys in the worst weather possible to teach me the hard lessons of driving in bad conditions. It was scary and difficult, but I have always been grateful for it.

I wasn’t, and haven’t been, perfect at this throughout my life, but it’s kept me from causing any serious accidents and being an overall solid driver in regular and winter conditions.

So, I thought I’d share what my father taught me. Since we are in the age of Google-ing how to do everything, my hope is that this will help someone who needs it or remind those who need reminding, which is a shocking number of us all. These aren’t mind-blowing, but they could save your lif,e or the life of another. If that’s too dramatic for you, it will save you from an insurance claim, spending more money, and wasting time.

Don't Follow Too Close - Icey roads can make it difficult to stop and increase the time it takes to do so. If you are following the car in front of you too closely, you could quickly cause an accident. The usual recommendation is to try and keep three car lengths between you and the person in front of you. For snowy weather, six car lengths should be what you try for so that you have plenty of room to maneuver if you have to slow down or stop suddenly.
Avoiding quick, aggressive lane changes and turns - Often, the middle of a road or the area between lanes has more snow and ice built up as car tires don’t go over those spaces as much. A fast or aggressive lane change can lead to you spinning out, losing control, and causing a crash.
Ease into the gas pedal - If you have a bit of a lead foot, this could get you in trouble. Accelerating too fast can cause your tires to spin and your car to lose control. If nothing else, it can keep you from moving forward.
Clean off your entire car before driving - Snow and ice on your windows, as well as your roof and hood, not only make it difficult for you to see but can come off your car and blind others driving around you, creating even more hazardous conditions. Clean off your car, and if you have trouble reaching parts, buy a cheap, soft-bristled broom to use as a snow brush.
Follow behind the snow plow - While not fast, following behind the plow is a safer bet when driving as it clears the snow and drops salt for your car to grip the road. Don't get too close, as they can suddenly need to stop, too, and the salt being poured can damage your car if too close. Take a lot of care if you pass one, by the way.
STAY OFF YOUR CELL PHONE - This is a universal rule for all weather, and sadly, too many people are simply looking at their cell phones for their entire commute or drive. That’s not acceptable and is literally killing people. Go hands-free, put the phone down, and, as my dad would say, “connect brain when operating vehicle.”

I wish we didn’t have to remind people about these simple things. I hope you read these and thought, “duh,” because you do these things. If you don’t, please start. If not for you, for the people who love you.

Have more driving tips or stories? Pat @WBUF.com

Pat McMahon can be heard on 92.9 WBUF weekdays from 10 am to 3 pm.