In the blink of an eye, December is already here! And as we approach the end of the year, there’s more to keep in mind than just the lights and cheer.
Around this time, the temperatures may drop, but roadway traffic increases due to holiday preparation. Being prepared is a great thing to do. It is especially important when it comes to the safety and wellbeing of you and others.
According to a 2021 report of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s fatality analysis, Pennsylvania ranked the 5th deadliest state in the country whenever it came to winter weather driving. Although it comes as no surprise that the northern states out beat those in the south, topping this chart is nothing to be proud of.
That being said, there are ways you can help protect yourselves and others while sharing the roads this winter. We recommend keeping your tires properly inflated, avoiding using cruise control in icy conditions, and always keeping at least a half tank of gas in your vehicles at all times.
State College resident, Clare O’Neil prepares for weather driving by “Just having, in the back seat of my car, shovels, the wiper to wipe all the snow off, just having my boots at hand. And honestly, just trying not to drive in the snow is my tip for myself,” she said. O’Neils represents a great example of a community member looking out for herself and others.
To help yourself make informed decisions about whether it is safe to travel, look to PennDOT, whose travel alerts help give motorists the most up-to-date information about conditions on the roads.
PennDOT community relations coordinator and public information office worker, Marla Fannin, claims “It’s timely information that we’re trying to share as quickly as possible. That becomes important because it lays out what kind of weather is expected, what kind of road and weather conditions, what drivers could expect.” Her best advice for those driving in winter weather conditions is to stay home if at all possible, to avoid any sort of roadside emergency.