Tier 1 Vehicle Restrictions in place on multiple interstates in region
Go to 511PA.com or the 511PA smartphone app for the most up-to-date information
Due to the severity of the winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit to 45 mph on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County.
On roadways with speed restrictions, commercial vehicles not affected by restrictions on these or other roadways must move to the right lane.
In addition, the following vehicle restrictions went into effect at 6:00 AM today, in accordance with Tier 1 of the commonwealth’s weather event vehicle restriction plan.
· I-80 in Carbon and Monroe counties.
· I-81 in Schuylkill County.
· I-380 in Monroe County.
Under Tier 1 restrictions, the following vehicles are not permitted on affected roadways:
· Tractors without trailers.
· Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded enclosed trailers, open trailers or tank trailers.
· Tractors towing unloaded or lightly loaded tandem trailers.
· Enclosed unloaded or lightly loaded cargo delivery trucks/box trucks that meet the definition of a CMV.
· Passenger vehicles (cars, SUV’s, pickup trucks, etc.) towing trailers.
· Recreational vehicles/motorhomes.
· School buses, commercial buses and motor coaches without available chains or another approved Alternate Traction Device on board.
· Motorcycles.
Restrictions will be lifted as quickly as possible when conditions are safe. Restrictions can be changed based on conditions on the roadways, and reports from first responders, law enforcement and PennDOT personnel.
While avoiding or delaying unnecessary travel during winter storms is the safest choice, PennDOT offers this advice if drivers must travel and encounter snow squalls or blowing or drifting snow:
· Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits conditions.
· Turn on your headlights. If caught in a snow squall, turn on your hazard lights.
· Stay in your lane and increase your following distance.
· Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.
· Do not drive distracted; your full attention is required.
· Use your defroster and wipers.
· Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
· During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely pull off the roadway.
· Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could cause a chain-reaction collision.
· Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
· Always buckle up and never drive impaired.
· Have an emergency kit handy. Here are some suggestions of what you could include in your emergency kit.
Last winter in Pennsylvania, preliminary data shows that there were 8,329 crashes, 29 fatalities, and 2,959 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways. Eleven of the people who died weren’t wearing a seat belt, and 17 of the fatalities were in crashes where a driver was going too fast for conditions and drove out of their lane.
For more information on safe winter travel, an emergency kit checklist and information on PennDOT’s winter operations including a video, visit www.PennDOT.pa.gov/winter. Additional winter driving and other highway safety information is available at www.PennDOT.pa.gov/safety.
Drivers can check 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 1,200 traffic cameras.
511PA is also available through a free smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following local alerts on X.
Subscribe to statewide PennDOT news and traffic alerts or subscribe to news in a specific county or region. Find PennDOT news on X, Facebook, and Instagram.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ronald J. Young, Jr., M.P.A., ronyoung@pa.gov
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