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Tennessee drivers urged to 'Take it Slow' in the snow
Johnson City (TN) Press ^ | January 1, 2008 | Staff

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?”


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: driving; snow; tennessee
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To: steve86

Thank you for the video...I really needed more grey hairs...

That fella had to be doing 40-50 on that snowy road...after the first minute with that maniac i would have been walking...


61 posted on 01/01/2008 10:44:56 PM PST by billmor (MSMDS= .Main Stream Media Derangement Syndrome. .causes extreme stupidity)
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To: billmor
That fella had to be doing 40-50 on that snowy road...after the first minute with that maniac i would have been walking...

Try at least 110 mph. World Rally car.

These guys are faster on snow and ice than most of us would be on dry pavement.

62 posted on 01/01/2008 11:15:59 PM PST by steve86 (Acerbic by nature, not nurture™)
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To: don-o

In Bflo, 70,000 folks went to an outdoor NHL game in snowstorm.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/news;_ylt=Ah82Tb7ssk6Tl2aVOaPYuLh7vLYF?slug=rm-winterclassic010108&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

It was great.


63 posted on 01/01/2008 11:47:21 PM PST by Peelod (I do renounce Hillary! and all her pomps and works.)
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To: Coldwater Creek

I didn’t make this up, but a fellow freeper said that there
was always a run on bread, milk and eggs in advance of a big storm. Apparently everybody makes french toast.


64 posted on 01/02/2008 12:16:05 AM PST by gigster
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To: don-o; All
Fer Gawd's sake, somebody,

And, a few of these...

Photobucket

65 posted on 01/02/2008 1:33:41 AM PST by backhoe (Just a Merry-Hearted Keyboard PirateBoy, plunderin’ his way across the WWW…)
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To: backhoe

Morning bump.


66 posted on 01/02/2008 3:47:41 AM PST by don-o (Do the RIGHT thing. Become a monthly donor. End Freepathons forever)
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To: Right Wing Assault
I’m in the heart of the snowbelt 30 miles east of Cleveland. We received 14” yesterday and it’s still snowing. We average well over 100+ inches a year. Thanks goodness my husband has a front-end loader to move the snow in addition to the plow. Happy New Year, everyone.
67 posted on 01/02/2008 3:51:42 AM PST by GOP_Lady
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To: 1rudeboy

While I strongly agree with the sentiment, it’s also worth noting that 4 x 0 = 0.


68 posted on 01/02/2008 3:57:34 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
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To: don-o

Years ago, my employer distributed little pamphlets containing winter driving tips.

One of the recommendations was “stay spaced out in traffic”.

I wonder what they meant by that?


69 posted on 01/02/2008 4:00:59 AM PST by Fresh Wind (Scrape the bottom, vote for Rodham!)
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To: Peelod

I watched some of that, it was good stuff.


70 posted on 01/02/2008 4:01:18 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
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To: don-o

71 posted on 01/02/2008 4:04:31 AM PST by backhoe (Just a Merry-Hearted Keyboard PirateBoy, plunderin’ his way across the WWW…)
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To: GOP_Lady

My experience in the snow belt was a few trips to Erie where wife to be lived. Nice place to visit, but........


72 posted on 01/02/2008 4:17:56 AM PST by don-o (Do the RIGHT thing. Become a monthly donor. End Freepathons forever)
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To: don-o
LOL. Why do you think hubby and I love the desert? 11 years ago this past November, band after band came across Lake Erie for three days non-stop; we ended up with 80”. I’m amazed that we got through November and December with hardly any snow to talk about considering Lake Erie is still wide open.
73 posted on 01/02/2008 4:22:53 AM PST by GOP_Lady
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To: gigster

With the price of milk and eggs, a new menu is going to have to be invented.

LOL!


74 posted on 01/02/2008 4:36:03 AM PST by Coldwater Creek
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To: FreedomPoster
:)


75 posted on 01/02/2008 5:15:19 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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To: cva66snipe

Thanks, At the time(not any more), I was a fire alarm tech and even had my own elevator door key (the rod with the toggle on the end). It was in my tool box, but as I recall, you can only use those from the outside.


76 posted on 01/02/2008 5:15:46 AM PST by Boiling point (The Indians had a bad immigration policy and look what happened to them!)
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To: Boiling point

On some of them a flat head screwdriver worked. You just put it in caught the latch from underneath and pulled up. You can also run the elevator from on top of the car. I was on one of them one time with an elevator guy that was enough for me LOL..


77 posted on 01/02/2008 5:28:39 AM PST by cva66snipe (Proud Partisan Constitution Supporting Conservative to which I make no apologies for nor back down)
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To: don-o
Tennessee drivers are the slowest drivers on the Earth in the snow, that is if they ever leave their home once it snows at all. Even better is the pre-snow ritual that clears out the grocery store every time there was a snow prediction which was always wrong in East Tennessee when I was growing up.
78 posted on 01/02/2008 5:36:12 AM PST by Lady Heron
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To: 1rudeboy

Something tells me those aren’t summer performance tires. Or even M&S-rated all-seasons.


79 posted on 01/02/2008 6:10:23 AM PST by FreedomPoster (Guns themselves are fairly robust; their chief enemies are rust and politicians) (NRA)
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To: FreedomPoster

Speed-rated snow tires for the win!


80 posted on 01/02/2008 6:12:14 AM PST by 1rudeboy
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