Dangerous Roads newsletter: Avoiding a snowy spinout on Sunrise Highway

One of my earliest recollections of the perils of winter driving on Long Island came more than 30 years ago, when my buddy Eric picked me up from my part-time video store clerk job at Green Acres Mall during a snowstorm.

As Eric remembers it, I screamed like an infant as he lost control of his Chevy Malibu and we spun 360 degrees in the middle of Sunrise Highway.

Despite being on one of Long Island’s busiest roads — and extra crowded during the holiday shopping season — Eric, his beloved Malibu, and I all survived without a scratch. Call it a Christmas miracle.

Incidents like that one are a reminder that, for all our efforts at making Long Island’s roads safer, some dangers, including Northeast winters, are out of our hands.

But while there may be nothing we can do to keep water from freezing or snow from falling, there are measures we can take to improve our chances of staying safe. AAA recently published a fairly comprehensive list of winter driving tips that go well beyond "slow down" (which, incidentally, I’m grateful Eric did that day).

Here are a few of AAA's tips:

• "Don’t pull away until your windshield is completely defrosted and all snow is removed from your car": I’ve been guilty of not removing all the snow from the roof of my minivan — a job that doesn’t come easily when you’re as short as I am. Still, that’s no excuse, especially as big sheets of snow dislodging from a car roof can suddenly blind drivers behind you — or even block your own view if they come down on your windshield. Make the extra effort to get every last bit of snow off your vehicle, even if it means breaking out the stepladder.
• "Don’t let speed limits dictate how fast you travel": AAA points out that speed limits are "set for ideal road and weather conditions, not slippery pavement." And so, while going 55 mph on the Long Island Expressway may keep you from getting pulled over for speeding, it may be far too fast when the LIE is slick with ice and snow. In winter weather conditions, AAA recommends leaving six to 10 seconds' following distance behind the car in front of you. And that goes for all vehicles, regardless of whether they have four-wheel drive.
• "Lay off the cruise control": The day may come when all cars are completely self-driving, but we’re not there yet, so it’s best to have as much control of your vehicle as possible, especially in winter weather conditions. To that end, AAA also reminds drivers of the importance of minimizing distractions, like sending or reading text messages, while driving in any weather, much less in snow and ice.
• "Get your vehicle ready": Don’t wait until the first blizzard arrives to check if your tires have enough tread, or air in them, to function in the snow. AAA also recommends making sure all your lights function, your car battery is tested, brakes inspected, and coolant and washer fluid topped. To help address the build-up of ice on your windshield, you can buy washer fluid with antifreeze components and special winter wiper blades.

Stay safe our there.

Readers speak up

This week’s email comes from someone who attended Newsday’s recent town hall event looking at potential solutions to Long Island’s dangerous roads. If you couldn’t be there in person, you can now watch video of the event on Newsday TV.

Great job, last night. The public owes you a thank you. I hope your efforts are able to move the needle in the right direction toward a safer, more equitable Long Island.

Peter St. Germaine, Setauket

Have you checked some of the dangerous roads solutions suggested by our panel of experts? What did you think of them? Let us know at roads@newsday.com.

By Alfonso A. Castillo

alfonso.castillo@newsday.com@alfonsoreports

Alfonso Castillo has been reporting for Newsday since 1999 and covering the transportation beat since 2008. He grew up in the Bronx and Queens and now lives in Valley Stream with his wife and two sons.