Pennsylvania drivers are asked to take it slow, especially if you’re planning to travel this weekend.
PennDOT said that while significant snow amounts are not expected across the entire state, the northwest region could see up to 18 inches.
“PennDOT is fully prepared with staff, materials and equipment for this storm,” PennDOT Secretary Leslie Richards said. “However, salt is less effective at colder temperatures and gusting winds will impact visibility and driving conditions. We urge drivers to not be complacent even if their area isn’t expected to see several inches of snow – they must slow down, allow extra time in their commutes, and leave plenty of room around our plows and other vehicles.”
Last winter in Pennsylvania, there were 250 crashes resulting in 130 injuries on snowy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive-driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors, according to PennDOT data.
To help make decisions as to whether to travel during winter weather, motorists are encouraged to “Know Before You Go” by checking 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 850 traffic cameras. Users can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the “Check My Route” tool.
511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.
