While it may be tougher to drive on New Jersey roads when the weather gets cold and snowy, it is not impossible to do so safely. To avoid an accident, drivers should increase their following distance to at least eight seconds behind the vehicles in front of theirs. Furthermore, it is not a good idea to use cruise control or to accelerate too quickly. Those who are driving up a hill should not stop or slow down.
Drivers should know whether their cars have anti-lock brakes prior to driving in poor conditions. If a driver or a vehicle is not up to battling snow, ice or low visibility, it may be best to wait until after a storm passes. Those who choose to go out should let someone know where they are going ahead of time. A vehicle’s tires and brakes should be inspected prior to going anywhere to ensure that they are in proper working condition.
The same is true of a vehicle’s battery, and a car or truck’s gas tank should be filled at least halfway to avoid problems. Those who get stranded should make sure that the exhaust pipe is not clogged by snow or other debris. Doing so can reduce the possibility of getting carbon monoxide poisoning while in the vehicle.
Poor weather conditions may result in car or truck accidents on highways or local roads. If the roads were not properly cleared, the local government might be negligent for a crash occurring. However, drivers who were going too fast for road conditions or who were operating a faulty vehicle may also be negligent in causing it to happen. If negligence causes a car crash, injured victims may take action to obtain reimbursement for medical bills and other damages incurred.