Politics & Government

Winter Driving Tips From PennDOT

Here's what PennDOT recommends you keep in an emergency kit.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recommends that drivers not travel during winter storms. 

But if you must travel and you encounter snow- or ice-covered roads, PennDOT advises you slow down, increase your following distance and avoid distractions.

PennDOT also advises drivers:

  • To prepare emergency kits that include non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes and a blanket, a cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Also tailor your kit to your needs, such as adding baby supplies, children's games or extra medications.
  • To listen to weather travel advisories.
  • To remove snow and ice from the roof of your car, as well as the hood and windows.
  • To carry a cellphone.
  • To tell someone where you are going and when you expect to arrive.
  • To wear a seatbelt, and to not drink and drive.
Last winter, there were 427 crashes resulting in two deaths and 130 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive-driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors in the crash, PennDOT has said.
 
Motorists can check road conditions on more than 2,900 miles of state roads by 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 650 traffic cameras. 511PA also provides easy-to-use, color-coded winter road conditions for all interstates and other routes covered in the 511 reporting network. Access to 511PA is also available by calling 5-1-1.

For more information on PennDOT's winter preparations and additional winter-driving resources for motorists, you can visit the department's "Ready for Winter" website.


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