HARRISBURG, Pa. — With snowy and icy weather conditions expected for Thursday morning alongside cold temperatures and high winds, drivers have been urged to drive with caution.
PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) are advising motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during the storm. Additionally, various speed and vehicle restrictions will be in place.
Starting at 6:00 a.m. - Tier 1 restrictions will be in place on Interstate-81 from the Maryland border to I-80, the entire length of Interstate-83, as well as the entire length of Interstate-283. You can find more about the various PennDot tier restrictions here.
PennDOT and PTC crews are pre-treating roadways where necessary ahead of the storm to prevent ice from forming. However, the organizations are reminding drivers that they will likely still encounter slick spots on the roads.
With freezing temperatures, roads that look wet may actually be icy and extra caution is needed when approaching bridges and highway ramps where ice can form without warning.
PennDOT is urging drivers to avoid travel if possible. If travel is necessary, use caution, reduce speeds and be aware of changing weather conditions.
To help make decisions regarding winter travel, motorists are encouraged to check roadway conditions by visiting www.511PA.com. The website, 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.
Users can also see plow truck statuses and travel alerts along a specific route using the "Check My Route" tool.
Last winter in Pennsylvania, preliminary statewide data shows that there were 266 crashes resulting in two fatalities and 116 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive-driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors.
When winter weather occurs, drivers should be extra cautious around 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.
