Staying safe driving in winter

Don’t mess with the plow PennDOT reminds motorists that they are prepared to keep the transportation system safe for motorists by clearing roadways of snow and ice this winter. Motorists can maintain their own safety by following these simple rules when sharing the road with snow plows and other PennDOT winter maintenance equipment: · STAY BACK: Maintain at least six car lengths to avoid collisions and damage from flying anti-skid materials and salt. · BE PATIENT: Remember that PennDOT crews are trying to serve the best interests of their customers by working to make the roadways as safe as possible. · BE VISIBLE: Turn on headlights and move slightly to the left side of the lane to make sure the snowplow driver can see you. Remember, PA State law requires you to turn on your headlights when your wipers are on. · BE CAUTIOUS: The average snowplow truck weighs 50,000 pounds while the average car weighs about 3,000 pounds. Be extra careful and not take chances around snowplows. · REDUCE SPEED: Snowplows travel slower and often stop and back up. Be aware and stay aware! Do not pass or get between snowplows. Wait until it has reached a clear area. · ALLOW SPACE: Don’t travel next to a snowplow. Snow drifts and heavy slush can cause the plow to shift. For road conditions on Pennsylvania interstate highways, call PennDOT’s Interstate Road Conditions hotline at 1-800-783-6783 (toll free) or visit PennDOT District 4-0’s website, www.neparoads.com to check the Traveler Information link and look for the big blue snowflake button. How to winter-check your child’s seatbelt safety Take the car seat into the house. Put the winter coat or snowsuit on the child. Put the child in the car seat and buckle the harnesses as you normally would before car travel. Adjust the straps to the appropriate fit for your child. Take the child out of the car seat without loosening the straps at all. Take the coat off your child. Put the child back in the car seat and buckle the harnesses again, but do not tighten the straps. If you can fit more than two fingers under the harness at the child’s shoulder bone, the coat is too thick and is not safe for use with the car seat.