Posted on 01/01/2008 7:19:53 PM PST by don-o
The Tennessee Department of Transportation and the Tennessee Highway Patrol are joining a new national safe winter driving campaign called, “Ice and Snow: Take it Slow.”
“TDOT is ready to work around the clock to keep our roadways clear of ice and snow this winter,” said TDOT Commissioner Gerald Nicely. “We also want drivers to remember that winter conditions call for different driving tactics, so when you’re driving in ice and snow, take it slow — slower speed, slower acceleration, slower steering and slower braking.”
TDOT and the THP remind motorists to dial *THP from any cellular phone should they become stranded or need assistance when on the road.
Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell added, “Tennessee Highway Patrol troopers are ready to assist those who need help on the road, but the best way a motorist can help is to be prepared before hitting the road by properly maintaining your vehicle, clearing your windshield of ice and snow, and making sure your tires are road ready.”
When snow hits Tennessee, TDOT maintenance crews will focus on clearing interstates and heavily traveled state routes first, specifically targeting areas vulnerable to freezing like hills curves, ramps, bridges and interchanges.
“When our crews hit the road, it’s important for motorists to use caution around snowplows,” said TDOT Maintenance Director Greg Duncan. “Make sure you maintain a safe distance and don’t tailgate or stop too close to a snowplow. They are usually spreading salt or brine from the back of the truck, and those materials can damage vehicle paint.”
TDOT has nearly 200,000 tons of salt and more than 1.6 million gallons of salt brine ready for use. The department dedicates more than $12.6 million a year to snow and ice removal operations across the state. During a typical snowstorm, crews begin by first apply anti-icing brine to roadways. Sand, salt and calcium chloride may then be used to remove any accumulating snow and ice.
TDOT also monitors roadway conditions through the Roadway Information System (RWIS). The department has 37 RWIS stations statewide. The stations monitor a variety of weather related factors such as air temperatures; dew point; wind speed/direction; precipitation types and rates; and asphalt temperatures. The system alerts TDOT maintenance supervisors when freezing conditions are imminent.
All Tennesseans can monitor roadway conditions before leaving home by visiting the Tennessee 511 Web site at www.tn511.com or by dialing 511 from any land line or cellular phone.
“It’s important to plan ahead before you leave the house,” Nicely said. “So before you leave home, ask yourself, if it’s snowing should I be going?”
I think I need to find a new planet
Big old “DUH” there guys.
Here in Memphis, a lot more drivers think they know how to drive on ice and snow than actually know how to do so. One of the news stations was trying to show a car that slid into the curb in one storm. It was hit by another who made the same mistake, and another, and another. Finally, they gave up in disgust.
WE got 3 inches of snow a couple of years ago. It took me 3 hrs to get 10 miles. Every road out of Mt. Juliet, TN was blocked by accidents. I counted 36 cars and SUVs off the road and many upside down. More than 3/4 of them were 4WD vehicles. They just figured if they use 4WD they can do 70 MPH.
1 inch of snow in TN will shut a city and roadways down.
You should see what a prediction of flurries will do to a Kroger
We don’t have to worry about all that here in Nashville. Al Gore’s huge “carbon footprint” prevents snow here.
Maybe the campaign is geared towards new arrivals from South of the border who may have limited experience with freezing precipitation on roadways.
They cancelled school at least once the last two years because they were PREDICTING snow.... it never snowed.
Our car insurance doubled when we moved from L.A. to Memphis.
In California, we were required to have drivers training before getting a high school diploma. I’m sure that has changed over the years. It's all about defense. I just don't go out on the roads when there is bad weather.
“You should see what a prediction of flurries will do to a Kroger”
It’s a conspiracy between bread/milk producers and the meteorological industry.
Why is there always a run on milk, bread and toilet paper.?
You would think people in northern Ohio would remember that ice and snow are slippery. You can always tell the first slippery day since a lot of the STOP signs are flattened by people sliding into them.
There is also a run on beer.
True!
LOL! That’s our Tennessee.
fer a laff
How to drive on ice:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=AJ_abQ9rPHs
Be prepared to get a hernia laughing at this one.
Yikes! He was probably talking on his cell phone, too.
That’s a might nice deer rack on that thar sno mobile. don’t see ‘em that big ‘round here often
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