Why You Should Drive During a State of Emergency

The blizzard has come and gone and left us all with various amounts of snow to deal with. With many states in the Northeast, including New Jersey, calling for a state of emergency, many people felt that it still was ok to drive on the roads. According to the New Jersey State Police, there were more than 300 car accidents during the snowstorm this weekend. Where did all the cars come from? Aren’t you suppose to stay off the roads in a state of emergency?

Unless there’s a specific travel ban in place, you are able to drive in a state of emergency, but you really shouldn’t. Not only is it for your protection, but it also allows state employees such as emergency responders, police, and NJDOT, to quickly respond to the emergency at hand.

But you’re a good driver. You’ve never gotten into a car accident before. And you only have to drive a couple of miles to see if your elderly mother is doing ok in the storm. You hop in your car and start out. Soon things quickly go downhill and your car skids, crashing into a telephone pole. What will happen next?

According to the State Police, if your driving wasn’t safe for roadway conditions, this is considered a violation and you will receive a ticket for reckless driving. If you do something that interferes with officials during a state of emergency, such as driving along a closed off road, then you can expect a penalty of up to $1,000 fine and six months in jail. So it’s probably better to stay indoors with a nice cup of hot chocolate than brave the roads.

If you get into a car accident and the cause is bad weather conditions, we can help. Contact the Law Offices of Anthony Carbone today for a free consultation.