Governor's Traffic Safety Committee and New York State Department of Motor Vehicles Offer Motorists Tips to Prepare for Spring Driving Season

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee (GTSC) today offered tips to help New Yorkers prepare to transition to spring weather driving and road conditions.

“Warmer temperatures are a great cure for cabin fever brought on by a harsh winter, like the one we had this year in New York,” said Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner and GTSC Chair Mark J.F. Schroeder. “A lot of New Yorkers will be anxious to hit the road and shake their winter blues. By making sure your vehicle is ready for the season and adopting a few simple practices, you will help ensure your safety and the safety of others on the roads.” 

Before driving, the DMV and GTSC recommend these tips:

• Check and rotate your tires. Tires are a critical component of your car handling, fuel efficiency and safety. Cold temperatures cause tire pressure to drop, and as the weather warms up, it’s essential to check and adjust the pressure to the manufacturer’s recommended levels. Inspect tire tread and sidewalls for any cuts, punctures, bulges, scrapes, cracks or bumps. The tread should be at least 2/32 of an inch or greater on all tires.
• Prepare to change out your snow tires. State law allows the use of snow tires from October 16 through April 30.
• Inspect and/or replace wiper blades. Windshield wiper blades wear during snowy, slushy and icy months. It's important that your wiper blades work well so you can always see the roadway.
• Top up fluids. While the car is cool, check the engine oil, brake fluid, transmission and engine coolant levels.
• Replace air filters. Pollen, dust and other allergens surge in spring, making it an excellent time to check and replace air filters. A fresh cabin air filter improves air quality inside your vehicle, while a clean engine air filter ensures optimal fuel efficiency and performance.
• Update your vehicle emergency kit. In addition to a first-aid kit, jumper cables and a tire repair kit, it’s important to stock your car with warmer weather supplies, such as bottled water, sunscreen and a flashlight with fresh batteries.
• Test your car battery. Car batteries work harder to power vehicles during the winter months. The best way for your car battery to maintain or regain its charge is to take longer drives, lasting around 30 minutes, on a regular basis.
• Clean and tighten the battery terminals to ensure they are free of any corrosion and have your battery load tested to ensure it's working properly.
• Inform a responsible person of your destination, intended route, and estimated time of arrival.

When ready to drive, follow these tips:

• Warm up the car. While spring brings higher temperatures, there may still be frost on your vehicle in the morning. Be sure to clear all the windows before leaving home.
• Slow down on wet roads. Slick doesn't always mean icy. Rain can cause oil to lift to the surface of the roadway, making for slippery conditions. Adjust your speed to accommodate road and weather conditions and leave more following distance between you and other vehicles.
• Turn on headlights whenever windshield wipers are on. New York State law makes this mandatory.
• Be aware of potential road hazards. Winter weather and plowing can cause potholes on the roads. Additionally, spring storms can cause mud, branches and leaves to wash onto the road. Slow down and when possible, swerve to avoid them.
• Share the road. Warmer weather and additional daylight hours brings out bicyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.
• Use caution when backing up. Before you back out of a driveway or parking spot, double check for children running and playing. When using a backup camera, remember that kids, pets, and objects may be out of view but still in the path of your vehicle.

If spring severe weather is predicted, motorists, commuters and long-distance travelers alike should check 511NY before getting on the road to determine if travel is advisable. The free travel information system is accessible 24 hours per day by calling 511, visiting the 511NY website or downloading the free 511NY mobile app, which is available for iOS and Android. The service provides real-time traffic conditions, access to more than 1,000 live traffic cameras, and links to information about air, rail and transit services.

The 511NY website features a winter travel advisory system with real-time travel reports and a color-coded map indicating which state roads are snow-covered, ice-covered, wet, dry or closed.

For more information about the GTSC, visit the GTSC website or follow GTSC on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

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