Pittsburgh, PA – As the winter season approaches, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), outlined the district's plans for winter maintenance services and encouraged the public to be prepared ahead of the first accumulating snow fall.
PennDOT winter maintenance within Allegheny, Beaver and Lawrence counties begin planning winter operations in the middle of summer each year. With over 64,500 tons of salt and 70,700 gallons of brine currently on-hand, department forces are ready to work to make the roads passable for motorists this winter using the compliment's 133 plow trucks.
When snow hits, PennDOT's primary focus is on interstates and expressways. The more traffic volume a roadway has, the more attention it will receive from plows. There may be more accumulations on less traveled streets and driving routes should be adjusted accordingly.
Motorists can always check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles, including color-coded winter conditions on 2,900 miles, by using the 511PA free smartphone app, by calling 5-1-1, or 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 1,000 traffic cameras.
Locally, when winter roadway emergencies occur on state roads, District 11 will utilize its social media platforms to announce closures and interstate restrictions. Follow PennDOT on X and join the Greater Pittsburgh Area PennDOT Facebook group.
Additionally, motorists should prepare their vehicles for the winter by checking fluid levels, lights, defrosters and windshield wiper blades. Tires should also be checked often for the correct level of air pressure and adequate tire-tread depth to safely perform on ice and snow.
Once vehicles are travel-ready, drivers should be prepared for winter or vehicle emergencies. PennDOT urges the traveling public to carry an emergency kit, which should include items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. The kits should be tailored to the specific needs of the individuals in the vehicle, with items such as baby supplies, extra medication, pet supplies or even children's games.
Motorists are reminded the law requires drivers to remove accumulated ice or snow from their vehicle, including the hood, trunk, and roof within 24 hours after the storm has ended. This applies to all vehicles, including commercial vehicles. Drivers in violation of the law are subject to a fine of $50. Additionally, motorists can be cited up to $1,500 if snow or ice is dislodged and strikes another vehicle or pedestrian causing death or serious injury.
PennDOT also reminds motorists when encountering a plow truck on the road, give it plenty of space. The areas close to the sides and behind a plow truck are considered the "No Zones." Drivers should avoid this area and never try to pass a plow truck. This becomes a dangerous situation for everyone involved.
For more information on PennDOT's winter preparations and additional winter-driving resources, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/winter. The site also has a complete winter guide with detailed information about winter services in each of PennDOT's 11 engineering districts.
For more information, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
PennDOT's media center offers social-media-sized graphics highlighting topics such as seat belts, impaired driving, and distracted driving for organizations, community groups, or others who share safety information with their stakeholders.
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