Motorists obeyed travel bans during the blizzard but officials urge caution as drivers go back to LI roads Tuesday

The storm has passed — after dropping more than 2 feet of snow on parts of Long Island — but its impact will be felt long after residents shovel out their driveways and clear off their cars, according to AAA Northeast.

Highways and most major streets should be clear by Tuesday morning's rush hour, but AAA Northeast spokesman Robert Sinclair urged motorists to go slowly when they return to the road after the massive storm that dropped 29.1 inches of snow in Islip, which the National Weather Service called an unofficial record for the region.

"Posted speed limits are for ideal conditions," Sinclair said on Monday, "and these conditions are hardly ideal. So we need to keep our speed down."

Motorists in Nassau and Suffolk, for the most part, followed the travel bans ordered by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman on Sunday and Monday, officials said. But some urged caution as motorist are expected to go back on the road Tuesday.

Sinclair said above-freezing temperatures forecast for later this week will melt some of the snow, but the ground will remain below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The water will refreeze on roads and highways, creating black ice that can be treacherous for even experienced drivers.

"It is really, really important that we drive very, very slowly in these conditions," Sinclair said.

Nassau police had to rescue about 75 motorists stuck in the snow, a spokesman said. "Police officers were directed to give warnings first and only if cars were seen again, to issue a violation," Blakeman said in a statement. "Everyone complied, so it was not necessary to issue any violations."

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police said she was unaware of any stranded motorists who had to be rescued by officers during the storm. There were only four active crashes reported by late Monday morning, far fewer than typical.

"It’s never an easy decision," Romaine said in a statement about shutting down travel. "However, safety is the number one concern and it was important for us to keep the roads clear for our plows, and, of course, for everybody’s safety."

New York State Police have assisted nearly 50 motorists who needed help on Long Island roads since Saturday night and responded to more than two dozen accidents, according to a spokeswoman. The agency has deployed additional personnel and assets during the storm, she said.

The storm took down a few trees in Old Westbury but caused no major problems, according to the village’s police chief, Stuart Cameron. But he fears motorists won’t use caution once they start to venture out on the Long Island Expressway, Jericho Turnpike and other major arteries in his jurisdiction. He said the department is adding additional patrols to make sure motorists drive safely in slick, icy conditions.

AAA Northeast spokesman Sinclair also is worried about the morning after the storm, and he urged drivers to slow down — and take these steps when they hit the highway this week.

• Clear ice and snow from the tailpipe. Exhaust fumes that enter car interiors because of clogged tailpipes can cause serious illness and even death. Low-slung compact and economy cars are especially prone to having clogged tailpipes but SUV’s and large pickups are also susceptible after large amounts of snowfall.
• Clear your vehicle completely to prevent chunks of snow and ice from blowing off and blinding other drivers and damaging windshields. It’s not only common courtesy; it’s also the law in New York State.
• Warm up your car before you dig it out. It will make the job a bit easier — just make sure the tailpipe isn’t clogged.
• Check your wheels for trapped ice and snow. Ice and snow lodged in the wheels upsets their alignment, making for a bumpy ride.
• Drive with caution around tractor-trailers and other trucks. Sinclair said it is difficult to remove snow from the top of trucks, so drivers need to be careful when approaching large vehicles.

"Leave lots of room between your vehicle and the vehicles around you," Sinclair advised. "Not just in front of you, but the sides and the rear and all of that."