Winter Driving Safety Tips for New Jersey Drivers | Chiropractor North Brunswick NJ

Winter Driving Safety Tips for New Jersey Drivers | Chiropractor North Brunswick NJ. Streets can be dangerous on snow days, car accidents, black ice, snow, sleet and frozen rain. Brunswick Chiropractic Center of NJ is here if you need us.

Plan for the Road Ahead

Make sure your vehicle is packed with safety necessities and practical items before you leave the house. (See our list of essentials to keep in your car for a good start.) Some of the most important things to have in the winter are cold-weather gear (like gloves, blankets, and hand warmers), safety equipment for your car (ice scraper, chains, jumper cables, flashlight/headlamp, and flares), and items to keep you comfortable and connected (food and water, a game or something to read, and a cell phone charger). It’s a good idea to keep your gas tank topped off so you don’t run out of fuel if you’re stuck in traffic for many hours; consider carrying a container with extra gas as an additional precautionary measure.

Before you head out onto the road, let your car fully defrost, which allows you maximum visibility out of all windows. This is not only safety advice—in New Jersey, it’s the law! Scrape off your headlights and taillights to ensure your car is as visible as possible to other vehicles. Do a preemptive examination of your car before the worst weather hits, changing fluids and topping off coolant, replacing worn wiper blades, and checking that your battery, charging system, and belts are in good condition. Make sure your tires have adequate tread, or think about switching them for winter studded or studless traction models if appropriate for your driving habits. Check that your car tires are inflated properly (including the spare), since cold air causes your tire pressure to drop about one pound per 10 degrees Fahrenheit; under inflated tires make your car much more difficult to handle.

 

On the Road: Safety First

Part of being a safe winter driver is practicing some good winter driving habits. Travel at a safe speed—everything takes longer in the snow, including stopping, accelerating, and turning. Don’t make last-minute decisions like cutting in front of other drivers or swerving into a lane that appears to be going faster; illuminate your turn signals for lane changes and well before you start to slow down in anticipation of a turn. Tap your brakes as you slow to better indicate to traffic behind you that you are braking, and leave much more distance behind the car ahead of you than in dry conditions (AAA recommends allowing 8-10 seconds of following distance, more than double the ordinary recommended 3-4 seconds). Equip your vehicle with chains or snow tires when they are warranted (and practice installing them before you have to do so in a snow emergency). A bag of kitty litter or sand can help weigh down the rear of a rear wheel drive vehicle, improving control and helping to avoid fishtailing; the contents can also be spread under the wheels to improve traction if you become stuck. If you find yourself sliding or skidding, take your feet off the pedals (both the accelerator and the brake), and steer as gently as possible in the direction you’d like to go. As you begin to regain traction and steering control, brake gently (if the front wheels are skidding) or accelerate gently (if the rear wheels are skidding). The number one rule of safe winter driving is patience!

 

What to Do If You Are in an Auto Accident

Despite your best efforts, it’s sometimes impossible for you to avoid an accident. If you are involved in or witness an auto accident in New Jersey, contact the authorities immediately. If you can safely offer medical assistance to someone in distress, you can do so without fear of reprisal Accidents involving a driver sliding into one or more parked cars are also common in slippery winter conditions. If you see a collision between a vehicle and a parked car, or if your car was hit while parked, read our advice on parked car collisions.

If you are involved in an accident, call Brunswick Chiropractic Center Of NJ. Dr’s Kosin’s can help with a Free consultation to help get you you back to good health quickly and safely.

 

How Chiropractic Care Can Help After an Auto Accident. Being in a car accident can be one of the most terrifying and overwhelming experiences a person lives through. …Chiropractors are able to treat neck and back injuries, whiplash injuries and help with soft tissue pain and injuries.

What are the Benefits of Chiropractic Care After a Car Accident? 

1. Injuries are not Always Obvious
2. Reduces Inflammation 
3. Non-Invasive Treatment 
4. Reduces Scar Tissue
5. Pain Relief Without the Use of Drugs
6. Reduces Pain Throughout the Entire Body 
7. Avoid Long-Term Pain 
8. Restores Range of Motion 
9. Improves Your Chance at Making a Successful Claim 

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