Navigating Pennsylvania Roads in Winter: Essential Tips for Safe Travel
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invests significant resources to ensure her roads stay accessible even during the harshest winter conditions. With a budget pushing $171 million dedicated to winter weather preparedness, PennDOT works tirelessly to keep Pennsylvania’s bridges and highways clear of snow and ice. This immense effort involves a fleet of over 2,000 plow trucks, rental trucks, and anti-icing units, tirelessly covering over 95,000 snow lane miles across the state each winter season. But with these essential services comes a critical question: are you allowed to pass a snow plow in Pennsylvania?
The answer is technically yes. Pennsylvania law doesn’t specifically prohibit passing operating snow plows, however, drivers are strongly advised to proceed with extreme caution.
PennDOT recommends maintaining a safe distance of at least six car lengths behind a working plow truck. These trucks often travel at reduced speeds, making sudden stops and maneuvering necessary. Drivers further warn against attempting to pass a plow for several reasons. The plow itself extends beyond the truck’s width, obscured by snow, which can make gauging size and distance difficult.
Keep in mind that plows have large blind spots and may move sideways to clear hard packed snow and ice.
Remember that multipulloaded plows or “plow trains” posit additional concerns.
“The force of the snow expelled from a plow can quickly cause smaller vehicles to lose control, posing a danger to surrounding vehicles,” PennDOT warns. It’s always better to err on the side of caution when driving near plows.
Let’s look at how PennDOT tackles winter weather to keep roads open.
Part of the strategy involves pre-treating major roads with salt brine during a non-freezing rain storm. This proactive measure, using a salt and water solution lets the team get ahead of the formidable weather. Pure salt finds its primary use on major highways, bridges and high-traffic intersections. Once snowfall begins, it’s time for plowing. The average route for a PennDOT plow covers about 40 miles. However, the actual time it takes to clear a route completely depends on the intensity of the snowfall and overall traffic volume. Light traffic conditions generally allow for faster clearing times.
The hierarchy of road treatment prioritizes interstates and expressways, which receive attention roughly every two hours. All other major routes and less traveled roads follow with a three-hour plowing schedule. Secondary state roads typically experience several hours of downtime during major snowfall.
Driving in winter requires extra caution. Last winter,
<ullantagonistic driving practices like speeding or aggressive lane changes contributed to about 151 crashes resulting in three fatalities and 55 injuries on Pennsylvania’s icy or snow-covered roads.
Consider postponing travel if a winter storm is predicted. And if you must be on the road, keep these vital safety tips in mind:
Prepare Before You Go:
• Assemble a winter emergency kit containing essentials: a flashlight with extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, jumper cables, a snow shovel, a first aid kit, blankets, an ice scraper, and keep extra food and water in your vehicle.
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What advice does PennDOT give for handling “plow trains” on the road?
## Navigating Pennsylvania Roads in Winter: Essential Tips for Safe Travel
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today we’re talking about staying safe on Pennsylvania roads during the winter months. Joining me is Alex Reed, a spokesperson from PennDOT. Thanks for being here.
**Alex Reed:** Thanks for having me!
**Host:** We all know winter in Pennsylvania can be unpredictable and sometimes downright treacherous. We heard PennDOT invests a lot of resources into keeping our roads clear. Can you tell us more about that?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely! We take winter road safety very seriously. We have a dedicated budget of over $171 million for winter weather preparedness [[1](https://www.penndot.pa.gov/TravelInPA/Winter/Pages/)]. This allows us to mobilize a massive fleet of over 2,000 plow trucks, rental trucks, and anti-icing units. These crews cover over 95,000 snow lane miles across the state each winter.
**Host:** That’s a lot of ground to cover!
**Alex Reed:** It is, and we want to make sure drivers understand the importance of safe driving practices in these conditions.
**Host:** Now, there’s been some discussion lately about passing snowplows. What’s the law in Pennsylvania on that?
**Alex Reed:** Technically, passing an operating snow plow is not prohibited by law. However, we strongly advise drivers to exercise extreme caution and avoid passing whenever possible.
**Host:** Why is that?
**Alex Reed:** Well, there are several reasons. Firstly, plow trucks travel at reduced speeds and make frequent stops and turns. Maintaining a safe distance of at least six car lengths behind them is crucial. Secondly, the plow itself extends beyond the truck’s width and can be obscured by snow, making it difficult to judge size and distance. Drivers should also be aware that plows have large blind spots and might move sideways to clear hard-packed snow and ice.
**Host:** That’s a lot to consider. Any advice on handling “plow trains?”
**Alex Reed:** Yes, ”plow trains,” which are multiple plows working together, pose additional challenges. The force of snow expelled from the plows can easily cause smaller vehicles to lose control, putting everyone at risk. It’s always safer to follow a plow train until it’s safe to pass.
**Host:** Excellent advice. Any final thoughts for our listeners?
**Alex Reed:** Always be prepared for winter driving conditions. Check the forecast, allow extra travel time, clear all snow and ice off your vehicle, and pack an emergency kit. And most importantly, if the weather is severe, consider postponing your trip.
**Host:** Great advice! Thanks for sharing your expertise with us today, Alex Reed.
