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February 4, 2010
Senator John Pippy E-News
PennDOT is Prepared for Approaching Winter Storm;
Motorists Urged to Avoid Unnecessary Travel
Drivers Reminded to Pack Emergency Kit
Harrisburg – With significant snow accumulations forecast
for much of Pennsylvania on Feb. 5 and 6, PennDOT today urged motorists to avoid
traveling Friday night through Saturday evening and urged those who must venture
out to pack an emergency survival kit.
“Travel during the storm will be extremely risky and
motorists really need to ask themselves if their trip is an absolute necessity
or if it can be avoided until after the storm has passed,” said PennDOT Deputy
Secretary for Highway Administration Scott Christie, P.E. “The best decision is
to avoid unnecessary travel, but if you must go, be sure that your vehicle is
prepared and that you have an emergency kit packed.”
A basic kit should include non-perishable food, water,
blanket, small shovel and warm clothes. When preparing an emergency kit,
motorists should take into account special needs of passengers such as baby
food, pet supplies or medications and pack accordingly.
In addition to packing a survival kit, motorists should be
sure that a relative or friend knows what time they will travel, the route
they’ll be using and their destination.
Motorists also need to be sure that their vehicle is ready
for traveling on ice and snow-covered roads. Be sure to check the vehicle’s
belts, hoses, battery and brakes. Drivers should also check that the heater and
defroster are working properly and that the wipers properly clear the
windshield.
PennDOT also recommends that motorists check their tires
for proper inflation and sufficient tread depth. If travel is an absolute
necessity, drivers should consider using dedicated snow tires or carrying a set
of tire chains.
“When winter precipitation is occurring, especially heavy
precipitation, motorists must slow down, travel with extreme caution and
remember that roadways will not be bare until several hours or more after the
precipitation stops,” Christie said. “Safety is always our utmost concern, but
we also need drivers to use common sense and be realistic about the conditions
they will encounter.”
According to Christie, interstates and other high-volume
expressways are treated first during winter storms. Secondary state routes are a
lower priority and during severe winter storms, deeper accumulations will occur
on these roadways.
The department’s primary goal is to keep roads passable,
not completely free of ice and snow. If the entire state is impacted by the
storm, PennDOT will have 5,400 crew members rotating shifts to keep more than
2,200 PennDOT plow trucks operating around the clock, if necessary. PennDOT will
continue to treat roadways throughout the storm until after precipitation stops
and roads are clear. The department has more than 600,000 tons of salt in stock
around the state.
In addition to department-force vehicles, PennDOT has
agreements with more than 700 municipalities for them to clear state roads
within their jurisdictions. The department also rents approximately 270 trucks
and operators to assist with snow removal.
The department asks motorists to allow plenty of space when
driving near plow trucks. Also, for their own safety and the safety of plow
operators, motorists should never attempt to pass a truck while it is plowing or
spreading winter materials.
Because weather and road conditions can deteriorate
quickly, motorists should always check the weather forecast before traveling.
Road conditions for interstates and some limited-access highways are available
by visiting www.511pa.com
before you leave home, or by calling 511 while stopped in a safe location.
For more winter driving tips and information on how PennDOT
treats winter storms, visit
www.dot.state.pa.us/winter.
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY:
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation
Engineering District 11
Dan Cessna, District Engineer
45 Thoms Run Road
Bridgeville, PA 15017
Jim Struzzi, Press Officer
(412) 429-5010
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