DOT: Turn Off Your Sprinklers For Safety

With winter here and temperatures forecast to plunge below freezing this weekend, Georgia's Department of Transportation is urging metro area residents to curb their use of sprinkler systems.

It's not just an issue of north Georgia's persistent drought, which is still technically on despite a few soggy days this week. It's a matter of roadway safety, the DOT says.

"Sprinkler systems that are left on overnight in freezing temperatures can create a hazardous condition for motorists the next morning,” said Dewayne Comer, district engineer at the DOT office in Cartersville. "Every year we see accidents caused by icy spots formed when water from sprinkler systems gets onto the roadway."

In a news release, Comer said that spray from sprinklers can get blown onto roads or excess water can drain onto the roadway, forming surprise patches of ice.

"Please take a moment and ensure your automatic sprinkler system is turned off," he said. "Anytime we have sub-freezing temperatures, please be on the lookout for icy patches or black ice, especially early in the morning."

According to the National Weather Service, temperatures in the Atlanta area are forecast to drop to 27 degrees Thursday night, 25 degrees Friday night and a freezing 32 degrees on Saturday night.

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