Not many people look forward to driving in the snow. Often, even those with large four-wheel-drive vehicles would prefer to stay home.
Seasoned or not, driving in the snow takes practice and caution. Thankfully, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) plays a significant role in keeping the roads safe for winter travels.
Here’s what PennDOT does to make your drive safer.
Salt brine
Depending on the type of winter storm, PennDOT trucks may treat the roads with salt brine before snowfall starts. The salty residue left on the road after treatment can help melt snow as it falls so that it does not accumulate into dangerous patches of ice.
While salt brine is helpful, it is not useful in all scenarios. When predictions say a storm will start as rain, salt brine will not help since the salt would get washed away by the rain before it can be effective.
Passable, not perfect
PennDOT road crews do a lot to keep the roads safe during a storm. Unfortunately, it is not realistic to keep the streets snow-free during a storm.
The PennDOT snow fleet has just over 2,000 trucks to maintain more than 90,000 miles of roads and bridges. During a storm, Pennsylvania’s snow crew strives to keep the roads as safe as possible, but that does not always mean they will be completely clear.
Staying safe
A large part of safe winter driving is up to you. Remember to practice safe winter driving habits, such as:
- Maintaining longer following distances
- Staying off of your phone
- Slowing down on slippery roads
- Preparing an emergency kit for your vehicle
When you limit your driving during winter storms and take time to be cautious, you can help prevent winter accidents.