NEWS YOU CAN USE


IT’S POTHOLE SEASON

While potholes can occur any time of year, they are most prevalent in the Northeast in late winter or early spring. Heavy traffic, aging pavement and frequent patching can lead to cracks. During the winter, snow and water fill those cracks and freeze, expanding and moving the pavement. Once the spring thaw starts melting the ice in the pavement, potholes appear.

Avoiding potholes is difficult and sometimes impossible. Should you drive into one, you may damage your vehicle’s exhaust system, suspension, alignment and/or tires and rims. From a safety standpoint, many drivers swerve quickly to avoid potholes, which can cause serious crashes. And driving into a pothole unexpectedly can cause a driver to lose control, leading to additional danger.

Try to avoid potholes by staying alert and attentive behind the wheel. If you see a pothole, state departments of transportation encourage you to report the locations so maintenance can be scheduled. Make sure you pull off the road to a safe place before making a report. Additionally, in some states vehicle owners can file a claim to request reimbursement for damage resulting from hitting a pothole.

It's Pothole Season

For more information, visit these websites to learn more about your state’s policies or call the numbers provided:

 

WAKE UP, DRIVE SAFE

Springing forward and losing an hour of sleep can challenge even the best drivers. The time change can affect commutes because now drivers may find themselves driving into the rising and/or setting sun, and there may be more sun glare during commuting hours. Drivers also have to adjust to having less sleep, which could in turn make them sleepy behind the wheel. Add in to that the influx of children, pedestrians, joggers and bicyclists during peak travel times, as they take advantage of the longer days and better weather to get outside.

Tips for making the transition to Standard Daylight Time a safe one:

Avoid drowsy driving

  • Get a good night’s sleep before hitting the road
  • Travel at times of the day when you are normally awake.
  • Avoid heavy foods before driving long distances.
  • Avoid medications that may cause drowsiness and impairment.
  • Schedule a break every two hours or 100 miles
  • Travel with an alert passenger and take turns driving
  • If necessary, take a quick nap. Pulling over to a safe place and taking a power nap – at least 20 minutes, but no more than 30 – can help you stay alert while driving.

See and be seen when driving

  • Adjust the vehicle’s sun visors and wear sunglasses whenever possible to limit glare.
  • Be especially cautions when traveling east-west routes. Driving eat in the morning into the rising sun impairs your vision, while traveling east in the evening puts a reflection of the setting sun in your rear-view mirror, also hampering visibility. (The reverse is true when driving west in the morning and evening.)
  • Keep headlights, windows, windshields and wipers clean and functioning well. Pay special attention to the inside of the windshield – it may be coated with a film that clouds vision and creates haze at dawn and dusk.
  • Always using the vehicle’s headlights during dawn and dusk hours. Don’t rely on the parking lights, which provide little illumination and can confuse other drivers.

STAY ALERT, STAY SAFE!

April 15-19 is Work Zone Safety Awareness Week. ‘Tis the season for road construction – and motorists should be extra alert when driving through work zones. Between 2020-2021, work zone fatalities increased by nearly 11%, even though overall roadway fatalities decreased by about 10%. Speed and distracted driving are common factors.

With more cars hitting the roads in nicer weather, drivers are reminded of the Slow Down Move Over laws in every state in AAA Northeast’s territory. Motorists are legally required to slow down to a safe speed and/or move over to the adjacent lane (if possible) when passing stopped vehicles on the side of the road, including police, fire, roadside assistance, and towing and recovery vehicles. In some states, the Slow Down Move Over law extends protections to motorists with disabled vehicles.

Visit AAA.com/SlowDownMoveOver to learn more.

 

Slow Down Move Over

WET WEATHER DRIVING TIPS

Spring showers may mean flowers, but the resulting wet pavement contributes to nearly 1.2 million crashes each year. Follow these tips the next time you’re caught driving in the rain:

  • Replace windshield wiper inserts that leave streaks or don’t clear the glass in a single swipe.
  • Make sure all headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are properly functioning so other drivers will see you during downpours.
  • Use your headlights all the time.
  • Make sure your vehicle’s tires have the proper inflation and that you have enough tread depth to maintain good traction on wet roadways.
  • Avoid cruise control, which can increase the risk of losing control of the vehicle.
  • Drive slower to reduce the chances of hydroplaning. Also avoid hard braking and turning sharply.
  • Increase your following distance to give yourself more room to maneuver.
  • If you feel yourself start to skid, continue to look and steer in the direction you want the car to go. Don’t panic and avoid slamming on the brakes as this will further upset the vehicle’s balance and make it harder to control.
Wet weather driving tips
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