PennDOT Gears Up For Winter

PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards outlined the agency’s plans for winter services and encouraged drivers to be prepared as well Friday during a news conference at the PennDOT maintenance facility in Norristown.

"Our residents count on PennDOT to keep them moving regardless of the weather and we take that mission very seriously," Richards said at the conference. "We have our materials and equipment in place and our staff of dedicated equipment operators, district-level staff and staff in Maintenance and Operations are ready to go."

This winter, all of the 2,200-plus PennDOT-owned and rented plow trucks will be equipped with AVL technology — meaning the public can view the trucks on interstates and expressways this winter at 511PA.com, PennDOT said. The AVL units send a cellular signal through the system that shows the trucks' locations, if the trucks are spreading material, and how much is being spread if spreading is happening, according to the department

Richards said PennDOT has compiled all of its information about winter series into a special page on the agency's website.

The site also has a complete winter guide with detailed information about winter services in each of PennDOT’s 11 engineering districts.

With $205 million budgeted for statewide winter operations, PennDOT deploys about 4,800 on-the road workers and has more than 768,000 tons of salt on hand across the state, according to the department.

The state’s snow plow trucks are equipped with computerized salt spreaders that allow operators to calibrate the exact amount of salt to be distributed regardless of the speed of the truck.

"Our equipment operators have an enormous amount of responsibility during a storm as they plow snow, monitor computers that control the flow of salt, monitor pavement temperatures, and keep their eyes on traffic and possible roadside obstacles," Richards said. "We urge drivers to allow plenty of space to snow plow operators so they can perform their jobs effectively and safely."

When winter weather hits, PennDOT’s primary focus is on interstates and expressways, and equipment may be redirected to those routes during significant winter events, PennDOT said. The more traffic a roadway has, the more attention it will receive from plows, so motorists may find deeper accumulations on less-traveled routes and should adjust their driving for those conditions, according to PennDOT.

In addition to planning for traffic impacts, Richards noted that vehicle preparation is critical to safe winter travel, the department said.

Last winter in Pennsylvania, preliminary data shows that there were 224 crashes resulting in 103 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive-driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors, the PennDOT said.

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

Tires should also be checked often for the correct level of air pressure and adequate tire-tread depth to perform on ice and snow, according to PennDOT. A quick way to check tread depth is to insert a penny in the tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down, and if you can see the entire head, the tires are worn and traction will suffer, PennDOT said.

If you live in an area prone to heavy snow, drivers may want to consider using dedicated snow tires or carrying a set of tire chains, PennDOT said. At a minimum, all-season tires should be rated for use in mud and snow, PennDOT said.

Accoridng to PennDOT, once vehicles are travel-ready, drivers should be prepared for winter or vehicle emergencies especially if long-distance travel is planned, with PennDOT urging motorists to carry an emergency kit.

Emergency kits should include items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger, and a small snow shovel, PennDOT said. However, motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs that they or their families may have and even consider adding such items as baby supplies, extra medication, pet supplies, or even children's games, PennDOT said.

Visit the department's website for more information on PennDOT's winter preparations and additional winter-driving resources for motorists.

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