Amid 1st Rainstorm in Months, LI Drivers Urged To Prepare: AAA

GARDEN CITY, NY — With heavy rain and windy conditions expected to drench the area throughout Thursday, drivers should use caution before hitting the road.

Given that it's the first rainfall since September 1, "proper vehicle preparation, along with a change of mindset, are needed to deal with conditions we haven’t seen in months," said AAA Northeast's Robert Sinclair.

That preparation should include:

• New windshield wipers. If that's not possible, Sinclair said, cleaning the rubber blades with soap and water would be a good alternative.
• Cleaning the windshield is also a good idea, he said, preferably with a glass cleaner.
• Top off the windshield washer fluid
• Check the tire pressure
• Change your mindset: "Roads can become extremely slippery when water mixes with dried and standing fluids that have leaked from vehicles, especially at the beginning of the storm," Sinclair said.

But, Sinclair added, slowing down and allowing for extra time will ensure drivers and passengers reach their destinations safely.