The Turnpike maintenance crew put these driving tips together for you. Safety is our priority. Making the road safe for our patrons to travel on is important and we hope these tips remind you to be careful when you travel the Turnpike too.
If your car needs a tuneup or is due for regular service a word to the wise is to have it done.
Make sure your battery and charging system are working properly.
Check the antifreeze in your cooling system for proper mixtures and consider flushing the system if it’s been a few years to renew the system and clear it of harmful dirt and rust particles.
If you have leaks in the cooling system have them repaired as soon as possible to avoid a winter engine overheating.
Make sure your windshield wipers are in good shape.
Keep your gas tank close to full to maintain your heat source if stranded and to avoid condensation from fouling the gas or rusting your tank.
Make sure your windshield washer reservoir is full.
Make sure your rear window defroster works.
Invest in good snow tires or at least make sure you have plenty of tread left for good traction.
A basic winter supply kit in your trunk may consist of; a snow brush and ice scraper, shovel, bag of sand, a blanket, winter clothes and boots.
Clear all snow and ice from the entire surface of your vehicle after a snow storm to avoid a pile of snow sliding onto your windshield while slowing down or flying onto the car behind you.
When driving in the snow drive, accelerate, brake, turn and stop slowly.
Pull into the breakdown lane as far off as possible--onto the grass if you can.
Turn on your four-way hazard lights.
Raise your hood to signal police and other drivers that you need help. You could hang out a white handkerchief from your window or side view mirror too.
Dial 911 to access the nearest state police location and they will dispatch a patrol car or maintenance vehicle to your location.
Healthy Vehicles Mean Safer Roads
Do the Triple Check: Have your mechanic check your belts for wear and slipping and check your hoses and radiator for leaks to avoid your car from overheating.
Keep Cool: Check your water and coolant levels in your radiator with a fairly new, an easy test strip that measures alkalinity in the water. If it's low, just add some antifreeze. This reduces the need for the annual radiator system flush, therefs less waste and it's great for the environment.
The Pressure's On: The temperature outside can affect the air in your tires. After a trip, stop, and check you tire pressure to make sure it conforms to the manufacturer's recommendations.
What's Bugging You: Bugs in the radiator and condenser can cause your engine to overheat. Check these areas regularly to keep them clear of bugs and other road debris.
