Community Corner

Drivers, Get Ready for Winter: PennDOT

Here's six things to carry in your winter emergency kit.

You know we're approaching the snow-ice-freezing rain-sleet season when the state Department of Transportation issues its call for motorists to join the department in keeping roadways safe.

"Drivers too play a key role in making sure that we all get home safely, so preparing for winter driving is essential," PennDOT secretary Barry J. Schoch said in a news release.

If motorists encounter snow- or ice-covered roads, Schoch said, they should slow down, increase their following distance and avoid distractions.

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, he said.

Schoch recommended drivers carry emergency kits that include:

  • Non-perishable food.
  • Water.
  • First-aid supplies.
  • Warm clothes and a blanket.
  • Cell phone charger.
  • A small snow shovel.

"However, motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families may have. Consider adding such items as baby supplies, extra medication, pet supplies, or even children's games," Schoch said.

Another tip: 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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