Mayor de Blasio Issues Travel Advisory for Potential Black Ice

January 25, 2016

As nighttime temperatures drop to near or below freezing throughout the week, melted snow can turn to ice/black ice causing dangerously slick driving conditions

NEW YORK—Mayor de Blasio today issued a travel advisory for tonight, January 25, through Friday night, January 29, 2016. As nighttime temperatures drop to near or below freezing tonight through Friday, melted snow can turn to black ice, causing dangerously slick driving conditions. The National Weather Service forecasts daytime temperatures Tuesday through Friday to range between mid-30s to mid-40s, but nighttime temperatures will fall to near or below freezing, creating the potential for icy road conditions.

“We’ve just witnessed historic snowfall here in the city over the weekend, and there is still a lot of snow on the ground. The warmer daytime temperatures will help with melting, but lower nighttime temperatures can create dangerous icing and freezing,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “New Yorkers should stay safe and take their time when driving or walking around outside.”

Safety Tips

New Yorkers are also encouraged to take the following precautions:

• Exercise caution and avoid slippery surfaces; some ice may not be visible. Wear sturdy boots that provide traction to reduce slipping. Use handrails when using stairs.
• Seniors should take extra care outdoors to avoid slips and falls from icy conditions.
• Drive slowly. Vehicles take longer to stop on snow and ice than on dry pavement.
• Use major streets or highways for travel where possible.
• Four-wheel drive vehicles may make it easier to drive on snow-covered roads, but they do not stop quicker than other vehicles.
• Know your vehicle’s braking system. Vehicles with anti-lock brakes require a different braking technique than vehicles without anti-lock brakes in icy or snowy conditions.
• If you are driving and begin to skid, ease your foot off the gas and steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Straighten the wheel when the car moves in the desired direction. If you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), apply steady pressure to the brake pedal. Never pump the brakes on an ABS equipped vehicle.
• Try to keep your vehicle’s gas tank as full as possible.
• Keep the name and phone number of at least one local towing service in your car in case you break down or become stuck.
• If you get stuck on the road, stay with your car and contact a towing company.

More Information

For more safety tips, view NYC.gov Emergency Management’s public service video announcement or visit NYC.gov/EmergencyManagement. New Yorkers are also encouraged to sign up for Notify NYC, the City’s free emergency notification system. Through Notify NYC, New Yorkers can receive phone calls, text messages and/or emails alerts about traffic and transit disruptions and other emergencies. To sign up for Notify NYC, call 311, visit NYC.gov/notifynyc, or follow @NotifyNYC on Twitter.