Motorists Urged to Use Caution With More Snow on the Way

After a messy storm caused dozens of motor vehicle accidents in South Brunswick on Sunday, the township is bracing for another blast of winter weather expected on Tuesday.

Snowfall is predicted to begin around sunrise on Tuesday and then continue for most of the day before tapering off late Tuesday afternoon. Police are concerned about the impact of the storm on both the morning and evening commutes.

Accumulation predictions have varied, with anywhere from less than an inch up to between three to five inches of snow possible in central and southern New Jersey.

The storm on Sunday resulted in 24 accidents involving 32 vehicles during a two hour time period between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Accidents occurred on several different township roadways, including Route 130, Henderson Road, Sand Hills Road and Route 1. 

Police urge commuters to use reduced speeds and to limit travel if possible during any winter weather event.

Tips from police for driving on icy roads:

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4.  Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
6. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
7. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.