Never Use Cruise Control on New York Roads During These Situations 

This winter has been determined to give the Twin Tiers and beyond, a good 'ol punch with more snow, ice, wind, and cold temperatures than we have experienced over the past few winters.

And that sure has made keeping our driveways, sidewalks, steps, etc. a challenge to keep clear of snow, and especially ice.

There have been many early mornings (and I go to work very early each weekday morning), and weather events have made the drive to work a challenge this winter season.

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We still have plenty of winter, and probably inclement weather events to come before spring finally shines on our communities, so I thought it would be a good time to give you a few tips when you hit our roadways during winter weather issues.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT) notes that due to slippery roads this season, there have been several crashes throughout the state. Even after a snow event has passed and the plows have done their job, it's important to be aware that the road surface may still be slippery.

Some tips include the following from the NYS DOT:

Speaking of cruise control use, while it is a great tool in your vehicle, there are some obvious instances where you should avoid using it.

Here are a few tips from the Hurst Towing website:

Use cruise control on long trips to avoid fatigue, but don't get too relaxed. When there is little or no traffic that allows you to keep to a consistent speed, cruise control is a great feature.

Times to avoid using cruise control include during times of inclement weather, including when it is raining, snowing, or when there are wet or icy roadways. If you are feeling sleepy, turn off cruise control, and either get off the road and rest up or if you have a licensed driver in the vehicle, let that person take over the driving for the rest of the trip.

During in-town driving, avoid using cruise control because you will most likely encounter plenty of stopping and starting. Cruise control is great, but use it only when it is safe to do so.