Community Corner

5 Things to Know About Driving in Tuesday's Ice Storm

Long Island is in for a terrible two days of winter weather; these tips can save your life.

The National Weather Service says Long Island is in for a terrible two days of winter weather. First snow, then sleet and freezing rain, will leave area roads treacherous.

Snow is expected to start falling in the morning, then turn to sleet and freezing rain as the day progresses. Snow and sleet accumulations could be up to 3 inches on the ground before it's covered with a fresh layering of ice as darkness falls.

The freezing rain could continue into Wednesday. Major ice-related issues are possible, experts say.

Find out what's happening in Glen Covewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

And driving in all of this could be nightmarish and dangerous. 

The best advice: Don't drive. New York City officials Monday night were warning motorists to avoid driving into the city Tuesday. If you don't have to, don't go out. It really is that dangerous.

Find out what's happening in Glen Covewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

If you must, here are some tips for keeping safer as Glen Cove roads freeze over. According to the National Safety Council and the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles:

  1. Slow down; dramatically so. Leave plenty of room to stop -- three times the normal space between you and the car in front of you. Turn on your headlights.
  2. Your car isn't the Batmobile. Ask any firefighter: SUV, Jeeps, four- and front-wheel drive vehicles end up overturned and in ditches all the time. Break gently. If your wheels start to lock, ease off the brake.
  3. Use your lower gears to assist with traction, particularly on hills. The lower gears are second (2) and first, (1) which appear below the "drive." gear.
  4. Be especially careful on bridges and overpasses. Their surfaces freeze first, before the rest of the roadway. 
  5. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility. And, the road ahead of the plow is probably in worse shape than the roadway behind it.

Stay with Glen Cove Patch Tuesday and Wednesday for frequent updates on the winter storm and its impact on the region.


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