Winter Driving: Fines, Plow Rules and Safety Tips

With winter expected to come on strong early next week, now is a good time to review cold weather driving safety tips and rules.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently released information regarding how to prepare your car for cold weather, as well as important reminders on laws regarding plows and clearing ice and snow from your windows.

The reminders are part of Winter Driving Awareness Week, which is January 10-16.

“Drivers who may have been holding off due to relatively mild weather should be sure they and their vehicles are prepared for the rest of the season,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards said.

Richards urged drivers who haven’t already done so to get their vehicles serviced by a trusted mechanic. Have the cooling system, battery, hoses, drive belts, tires and wiper blades checked to ensure they are in good condition and functioning properly.

Drivers should also frequently check all fluid levels, lights and wiper blades. Tires should be examined often for the correct level of air pressure and adequate tire-tread depth to perform on ice and snow.

Finally, in advance of winter travel, be sure to restock a vehicle emergency kit. “The kit should contain items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. Motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families have such as baby supplies, extra medication and pet supplies,” PennDOT advises.

PennDOT also reminds motorists that their vehicles should be fully clear of ice and snow before winter travel. If snow or ice falls from a moving car and hits another vehicle or pedestrian, causing death or serious bodily injury, the driver of that vehicle could face up to $1,000 in fines.

When winter weather is occurring, PennDOT reminds drivers to be extra cautious around operating snow-removal equipment. When encountering a plow truck, drivers should:

• Stay at least six car lengths behind an operating plow truck and remember that the main plow is wider than the truck.
• Be alert since plow trucks generally travel much more slowly than other traffic.
• When a plow truck is traveling toward you, move as far away from the center of the road as is safely possible, and remember that snow can obscure the actual snow plow width.
• Never try to pass or get between several trucks plowing side by side in a “plow train.” The weight of the snow thrown from the plow can quickly cause smaller vehicles to lose control, creating a hazard for nearby vehicles.
• Never travel next to a plow truck since there are blind spots where the operator can’t see and they can occasionally be moved sideways when hitting drifts or heavy snowpack.
• Keep your lights on to help the operator better see your vehicle. Also remember that under Pennsylvania state law, vehicle lights must be on every time a vehicle’s wipers are on due to inclement weather.

For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video released this winter, visit www.penndot.gov/winter.