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For Immediate Release
10/19/09
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511 PA Travel Hotline, Preparation Can Help
Motorists Cope
with Winter Road Conditions
Moon Township – The new 511 travel
hotline and website, as well as time-tested preparation, can help motorists
safely cope with road conditions this winter, according to Sen. John Pippy
(R-37).
Drivers can now get a little extra
help when planning snowy commutes by calling 511 or visiting
www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides
traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, average traffic speeds on urban
interstates and access to more than 440 traffic cameras. Starting in November,
511 will provide simple to use, color-coded winter road conditions for all
interstates and other routes covered in the 511 reporting network.
PennDOT offers the following
winter driving tips:
-
Have a mechanic you trust
check your vehicle’s belts, hoses, battery and brakes. You should also check
that the heater and defroster are working properly and that the wipers don’t
streak.
- Check
tires for proper inflation and sufficient tread depth. A quick way to check
tread depth is to insert a penny in the tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside
down. If you can see the entire head, your tires are worn and will not be able
to pull your vehicle through winter.
- If
you live in an area prone to heavy snow, you may want to consider using
dedicated snow tires or carrying a set of tire chains. At a minimum, all-season
tires should at least be mud and snow rated.
- Pack
an emergency kit that includes items such as non-perishable food, water,
first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket and small snow shovel. Tailor their
kits to specific needs of your family. Items such as baby supplies, extra
medication, pet supplies, a spare cell phone or even children’s games should be
included for families that need them.
- Remember
to slow down and increase following distance when confronted with snowy or icy
roads. In 2008, there were more than 7,700 crashes and 51 fatalities on snowy,
slushy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive driving behaviors such as
speeding or making careless changes led to the crash.
Along with 511PA, the Pennsylvania
Department of Transportation will introduce a special winter page on the
department’s Web site,
www.dot.state.pa.us/winter. Two of the main features of the page will be
brochures for motorists covering topics such as preparing your vehicle for
winter and how PennDOT battles winter storms.
CONTACT:
Matt Campion
(717) 787-5839
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