Middletown Police Offer Winter Driving Safety Tips

Snow flurries Tuesday served as a reminder that winter weather is on its way, and Middletown’s police department has safety tips to help ensure motorists remain safe on the roads as temperatures drop.

Not only should drivers check their vehicles for equipment safety, they should also take note of New Jersey winter weather laws, said Chief of Police Robert Oches.

“Check your car to make sure you and your loved ones have a safe winter,” he said in a news release.

The chief recommends the following safety measures for motorists:

• Make sure brakes are balanced and pull equally on all wheels to avoid skids
• Replace windshield wiper blades and add proper antifreeze solution to washer
• Test the battery to avoid breakdowns
• Check headlights and taillights to be sure all are working
• Check mufflers and entire exhaust system for leaks
• Have snow tires or matching radial tires to ensure traction

Before hitting the roads, drivers should remove any accumulation of ice or snow from their vehicle to ensure that it won’t become a hazard to other motorists. Failing to do so could result in a careless driving summons, according to Oches.

“We have all been on the receiving end of these sheets of snow and ice from the vehicles of careless motorists,” he said.

Oches also recommends that motorists have handy a shovel, sand, rock salt, traction mat, booster cables and safety flares.