Winter Weather Safety Driving Tips

NBC10 is reporting that this afternoon and will impact tonight's commute home.

To ensure a safe drive home, here are some winter weather safety driving tips courtesy of PennDOT.

• Carry a winter emergency travel kit containing a flashlight and batteries, a battery-operated radio, jumper cables, a cell phone and charger, a snow shovel, matches and a candle, first aid supplies, extra warm clothing and gloves, a blanket, an ice scraper, sand, bottled water, non-perishable food, and anything else you may need to accomodate family traveling with you such as medication.
• Listen to weather and travel advisories.
• Keep your gas tank at least half full.
• Slow down and increase following distance.
• Avoid sudden stops and starts.
• Beware of roads that may look wet, but are actually frozen.
• Use extra caution on bridges and ramps where ice can form without warning.
• Carry a cell phone.
• 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 bad weather, especially in cases of heavy or blowing snow.
• Remove ice and snow from windows, mirrors and all vehicle lights as often as needed.
• Remove snow and ice from the hood and roof of your vehicle. State law states that if snow or ice strikes a vehicle or person and causes death or injury, you can be ticketed.
• Do not park or abandon your vehicle on snow emergency routes.
• Do not pass or get between trucks plowing in a plow line.
• Make sure someone else knows where you are going and when you expect to arrive.
• If you do become stranded, it's better to stay with your vehicle until help arrives. Run the engine every hour or so, but make sure the tailpipe is clear and keep the downwind window cracked open.
• Do not drink and drive and always wear your seatbelt.