All you need are snow tires!
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?”
LOL!
In eastern Iowa, we had 3” of snow yesterday and 7” two days before. Of course, nothing shut down.
Ice and snow. Quattro.
There is so much of this nanny state talk everywhere I look on the news. Turn on the local news and the newsreader is telling viewers to be sure to dress warm today. The local weatherperson gives out more warnings than the forecast during their 45 second slot. The national news are also bitten by the bug of nannyisms. “If you are at home, stay there”, “It’ll be slick out there in the morning so watch yourselves”, “Know what brakes you have and practice, very carefully”.
I’ve had it with this attempt by the media to hand hold the public. It has gotten to the point where it is starting to effect my daily thoughts about going outside and that is serious!
We currently have about 1/4 of an inch on the ground, with the forecast calling for about another inch overnight. I live pretty close to E-Town's new ambulance station and two of the fire stations and they have been going crazy for the past two hours.
I swear when I was a kid, we went on with life and it did snow at least 4 or 5 times a winter. I sound like my old man, but it’s the truth
People in Tennessee don’t know how to deal with snow.
We really, really don’t. :p
Thats hilarious! The first car looks like he was in a pin ball machine.
I thought it wasn’t supposed to snow due to Global Warming. Reverand Al Gore said Global Warming is here.
I am confused now since the NY Times said that Reverand Al Gore’s claims are bogus.
“1 inch of snow in TN will shut a city and roadways down.”
Do you remember the ice storm in 92’? I think it was 92’. I’ve never seen anything like it even out here in Colorado. I had to cut my way out of the driveway with a chain saw and then drive into Nashville from White Bluff. It was insane.
The first guy also floors the gas and then smashes into something right after. I guess he’s trying to drift around the corners. Doesn’t work too well for him.
And what do you suppose the taxpayers of TN shell out annually to Mr. Nicely for his expertice in transportation matters such as this?
Yes, we had a nasty one in ‘98 or 99 too. I live outside Carthage, TN. These hills and single lane roads with 1”-3” of Ice make for a BAD, BAD drive.
“And don’t forget boys and girls; when it gets cold outside, bundle up nice and warm. And don’t forget your mittens. You don’t want to catch a cold.”
You hit it right on! The predictions by the weather people are really affecting our economy. Here, in CT, the weather people are forecasting days in advance . If the forecast is incorrect they still believe they were right. The forecasts are scaring the customers away from the stores.
What’s snow? I’m still waiting for photos from Utah...
One day it snowed about 1-1/2”. They shut the entire base down. No traffic in or out. They also shut the whole town done. I couldn’t believe it. But then I learned that they had absolutely NO snow removal equipment! Zero, zip, nada!
(We had some Texans in our Company that had never walked on snow before. We laughed our butts off until it got to the point that we realized we’d better help them off the grinder because they were starting to physically injure themselves.)
They are fine in deep snow but not too good in the city on ice and in snow packed into ice unless they have studs.
Metal studs used to be everywhere around here, but then they noticed they tore the hell out of the roads.
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