Winter Weather Driving Safety Tips Offered For Bucks Co. Drivers

TREVOSE, PA —Bucks County's transportation agency is offering winter driving tips as motorists get ready to hit the roads this holiday season.

TMA Bucks is committed to promoting safety on the roads with a comprehensive set of winter driving safety tips for commuters.

With the potential hazards that come with snow, ice, and colder temperatures, these guidelines aim to ensure that motorists navigate winter roads safely throughout Bucks County.

"The next few months can quickly bring unexpected poor driving conditions at any moment so make sure that both you and your vehicle are ready for ice and snow. We encourage all commuters to prioritize safety and follow these winter driving tips to ensure a secure and stress-free winter travel season," TMA Bucks said.

First and foremost, drivers should have a mechanic check the brakes, batteries, hoses, and belts on their vehicles.

TMA Bucks also recommends packing some kind of winter emergency kit to help with preparations.

The kit should include a flashlight and batteries, jumper cables, an ice scraper, a small shovel, gloves, a blanket, and anything else needed to accommodate a family traveling with you.

“It is really important to use good judgment if inclement weather is on the way,” explains TMA Bucks Community Traffic Safety Program manager Carly Wible. “If you have no reason to drive on snow-covered or icy roads then you should eliminate all unnecessary travel. Telecommute if you can so PennDOT and local municipal public works departments can have the space to more easily perform their road treatment duties for commuters that need to be out on the roads like first responders and emergency personnel. If you have to travel and be out during winter weather, there are several safety tips and information you should know.”

These are some of the tips:

• Remove all ice and snow from windows, mirrors, and all vehicle lights before you drive and as often as needed.
• Remove snow and ice from the hood and roof of your vehicle. State law states that if snow or ice from your vehicle strikes a vehicle or person and causes death or injury, you can be ticketed.
• Slow down and increase the following distance.
• Avoid sudden stops and starts.
• Beware of roads that may look wet, but are frozen, often referred to as “black ice.”
• Use extra caution on bridges and ramps, where ice can often form without warning.
• Do not use cruise control while driving on snow-covered roads.
• State law requires you to turn on your headlights when your wipers are on.
• Use your low beams in particularly bad weather, especially in cases of heavy or blowing snow.
• Do not pass or get between trucks plowing in a plow line (several trucks plowing side by side).

"Please remember not all highways in Bucks County are state highways and several are municipally-owned and are treated and plowed by the borough or township,” Wible said. “It is understandable it might take them a bit longer to get these roads cleared so please be patient. Bucks County also has several rural, two-lane highways, so please be understanding of this and allow PennDOT the necessary time to reach these roads.”

TMA Bucks said that drivers need to make sure they understand that most Bucks County municipalities have snow emergency policies. Be aware of your township/borough’s policy before any winter storms and comply to help keep the roads clear and safe.

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

TMA Bucks is a 501 (c) 4 non-profit transportation management association designed to promote and coordinate travel demand management strategies to reduce peak-hour traffic congestion and serve as a clearinghouse for transportation policies and programs throughout Bucks County.

TMA Bucks also manages the Bucks County Community Traffic Safety Program in partnership with the County of Bucks and the TMA Bucks Foundation. The TMA is membership-supported and businesses can learn more about the benefits of membership at tmabucks.com.