BANGOR, Maine — Snow is falling all across the state today, and Mainers are beginning to make adjustments to their daily travel routines.
Highway safety coordinator for Maine Bureau of Highway Safety Nick Brown said between December of last year and March of 2023, there were 28 fatal crashes. From the beginning of January to Dec. 4, there have been 124 traffic fatalities. Brown said most crashes are preventable, and drivers can do a few things to keep themselves and others safe on the road.
Brown said drivers should try to leave for work earlier than usual, giving themselves a little extra time to get to their destinations. Brown said winter weather can be unpredictable.
"Driving during a Maine winter, you never really know what you’re going to get," he said.
Brown said no matter how in control of your vehicle you think that you are—you should slow down and always take winter weather conditions into account.
"Even if it’s a little bit of snow and you know you have snow tires on—it’s still best to be a little bit on the cautious side because you never know when black ice is going to come into play, and that can easily send you off the road," Brown warned.
He said in his experience, putting snow tires on your car gives your vehicle better traction than all-season tires. While you should hope for the best a Maine winter can give, you have to prepare for the worst, Brown said.
Brown suggested that drivers keep reflective clothing in their cars just in case they need to walk to a gas station to get help. He said you should also keep a few basics with you.
"If you go off and there’s a blizzard—someone may not get to you for a little while," Brown said. "Maybe you lost heat in your car, and you can’t stay warm. So, you want to make sure you have your blanket in your car. Or if you get into a part where your car is stuck in some snow. Make sure you have some kitty litter that way you can grab some traction as well. Things like that having in your car ahead of time is just kind of prepping for whatever the worst may be."
Bill Walker, owner of Walker’s Garage in Brewer said preparing to drive in winter weather also means keeping up with your car’s regular maintenance.
"A lot of times people will go years without servicing their vehicles. And then it’ll start making a noise," Walker said. "So, I’ll get a look at it. And it's going to need this, [and] it's going to need that."
Walker said as winter weather kicks in, drivers should get their tires and air pressure checked and continue to get routine oil changes.
"Running dirty oil through engines nowadays is really bad for them, and it can quickly lead to catastrophic failures," Walker said.
Walker said proper car maintenance may save you from having a car emergency on the side of the road or even an accident. He said being proactive and properly managing your car's maintenance can also help decrease the money you spend on regular maintenance visits at the car shop or dealership.
Kyle Leighton, general manager at J. C Autobody in Veazie, said drivers should also do their best to drive defensively and carefully.
"You can be as confident and as conscious as you want to be, but you’ve got to be conscious of the people around you as well," Leighton said.
But if you are involved in an accident or a crash, Leighton said you may be without your car for a while. He said his shop and many other autobody shops are overwhelmed with scheduled car repairs, with most repair shops being booked up past February of next year.
Leighton said the recent United Auto Workers (UAW) strike delayed car part orders. He said it is now a little easier to get parts, but there are still some delays on some car parts that would normally be stocked. Leighton said he's had 35 cars towed to his shop in the last few weeks, and he has to try to work those repair requests in while completing repairs that were scheduled in advance, on time.
"If your vehicle is still drivable—we’re recommending people come in for an estimate and continue to drive their vehicle and schedule their repairs just to minimize their downtime without a vehicle," Leighton said. "If the vehicle is not drivable, and it has to be towed in, we’re telling people right now that it’s gonna be a minimum of 60 days before we really even touch the vehicle. Could be as much as 90."
Leighton said it's normal for business to pick up around this time of year with deer accidents being more common and drivers fighting against icy road conditions. He said the biggest issue his shop and many others are having right now is the amount of work.
Brown with highway safety said the best thing drivers can do to stay safe and avoid preventable crashes is to leave more room between themselves and other cars in front of them, refrain from driving distracted or under the influence, and reduce their driving speeds when necessary.