Equipment is Ready to Roll on a Moment’s Notice
(November 24, 2009) – Following several years of flurries and dustings, weather forecasters are saying this year could be cold and snowy. No matter what winter brings in the form of ice, sleet, freezing rain or snow, the Maryland Department of Transportation’s State Highway Administration (SHA) will keep Maryland’s roads clear and safe.
Today, SHA held a “Snow Show” at the District One office in Salisbury, Wicomico County. Plow drivers and technical experts assembled to demonstrate the equipment and advanced technology for combating winter weather. SHA has a vast arsenal to deploy, including approximately 2,600 staff and contractors who will operate more than 2,300 pieces of equipment throughout the State. SHA has 333,000 tons of salt available in Maryland and a $26 million budget available for winter operations.
“Motorist safety defines our road operations, especially during winter months,” said SHA Administrator Neil J. Pedersen. “We ask that drivers partner with us by following the tips for driving on ice and snow.”
SHA uses a team approach of information technology and hands-on technicians in the Snow Emergency Operations Team based in the Statewide Operations Center (SOC) at the Hanover Complex near BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. There, SHA collects information from its 28 maintenance shops from across the State. When a winter weather emergency occurs, the SOC doubles as the Emergency Operations Center - the command center for winter storm operations. From this nerve center operators monitor traffic, collect information from roadway sensors, and deploy equipment.
During a winter storm, SHA personnel monitor a bank of more than 100 SHA-maintained roadway cameras throughout the State. At this location, SHA monitors pavement temperatures, a key to effective and efficient re-deployment during winter storms.
Travelers can plan ahead before hitting the pavement by logging onto the cyber highway at
www.roads.maryland.gov and clicking on “CHART”, which stands for the Coordinated Highway Action Response Team. The CHART web site offers travel information, snow emergency plans, real-time traffic camera views, weather information, average travel speed maps and incident-related road closure reports. Motorists can also call the Winter Storm Hotline at 1-800-327-3125 for winter weather road closures.
SHA also reminds motorists to refrain from passing or following too closely behind snow plows and snowplow “trains” (a caravan of plows). It is particularly important to stay well behind the wing plows, as they are much larger than typical plow trucks.
Additional Tips in the Event of Snow:
• If you do not need to drive while is it snowing, please do not.
• NEVER pass a snow plow. If driving behind a snow plow or salt truck, provide plenty of space (at least 7-8 car lengths) behind the truck.
• Remember – bridges, ramps and overpasses freeze first. Use caution when driving across them.
• Four-wheel drive vehicles are just as vulnerable to slipping on ice as regular two-wheel drive vehicles.
• Pack a winter driving survival kit – including a shovel, blanket, water, jumper cables, flares, snacks and a flash light.
• Clear snow from your vehicle’s headlights, roof and from other places that may obstruct vision or become a danger to other motorists.
• When shoveling snow, please do not place it in the street/roadway. Plow trucks push snow to the right. When facing your driveway, pile snow to your left, off the road. This reminder will save you additional hours of shoveling!
More Tips to keep travelers safe all year long:
• Buckle up! It’s the law and your number one defense in a crash.
• Check your vehicle’s lights, tires, windshield wipers and battery for proper operation.
• Slow down and pay attention, avoiding distractions such as cell-phone use.
• Observe all posted speed limits.
• Do not drink and drive! Designate a driver in advance.
• In case of emergency, drivers with cellular phones can dial #77 to reach the Maryland State Police.
• Wet road surfaces are not ideal and require alert driving attention. Remember wet leaves can be as slippery as ice.
• Slow down, increase your distance between vehicles in front of you, avoid distractions and drive defensively.
• Always buckle children and use proper safety seats. For details log onto
www.nhtsa.dot.gov or
www.mdkiss.org.
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