REGION — With the first winter weather event forecast, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), is providing motorists with the following winter driving advice to consider if traveling is necessary. 

When you must drive

While PennDOT recommends not traveling during winter storms, it provides the following advice to those who need to drive in winter weather.

Carry a winter emergency travel kit. (including layers of clothing and blankets).

Listen to weather and travel advisories, but if you do not have to travel in bad weather, don’t.

Keep your gas tank at least half full.

Slow down and increase following distance.

Avoid sudden stops and starts.

Beware of roads that may look wet, but are actually frozen, often referred to as “black ice.”

Use extra caution on bridges and ramps, where ice can often form without warning.

Carry a cell phone.

Do not use cruise control while driving on snow-covered roads.

State law requires you to turn on your headlights when your wipers are on.

Use your low beams in particularly bad weather, especially in cases of heavy or blowing snow.

Remove ice and snow from windows, mirrors and all vehicle lights before you drive and as often as needed.

Remove snow and ice from the hood and roof of your vehicle. According to state law, if snow or ice from your vehicle strikes a vehicle or a person and causes death or injury, you can be ticketed.

Do not park or abandon your vehicle on snow emergency routes.

Do not pass or get between trucks plowing in a plow line (several trucks plowing side by side).

Make sure someone else knows where you are going and when you expect to arrive; in case you run into an emergency and need help, someone will know where to look for you.

If you do become stranded, it’s better to stay with your vehicle until help arrives. Run the engine every hour or so, but make sure the tailpipe is clear and keep the downwind window cracked open.

Do not drink and drive, and always wear your seat belt.

Snow squalls

Snow squalls are common and could create whiteout conditions, which could virtually eliminate a driver’s visibility. They can also create treacherous travel conditions for drivers where roadways quickly become snow-covered and slick.

Motorists should always be alert during the winter season for sudden squalls, which can strike with little or no warning.

If motorists do encounter snow squalls while traveling, PennDOT offers this advice:

Slow down gradually and drive at a speed that suits the conditions.

Turn your headlights on.

Stay in your lane.

Increase your following distance.

Stay alert, keep looking as far ahead as possible, and be patient.

Reduce in-car distractions since your full attention is required.

Use defroster and wipers.

Turn four-way flashers on.

Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.

During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely get as far off the road as possible or when there is a safe area to do so.

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 drink and drive.

While snow is falling, PennDOT will have crews treating roadways around the clock, but the department aims to keep the roads passable rather than completely free of ice and snow. PennDOT will continue to treat roadways through the storm until precipitation stops and roads are clear.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. The site provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. The app 511PA is also available iPhone and Android devices by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional X alerts.

You can also subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties at www.penndot.pa.gov/District4.

Contributed by PennDOT.