INDOT is Ready for Winter. Are You?

Last updated on Tuesday, November 22, 2016

(UNDATED) - As part of Winter Weather Preparedness, the Indiana Department of Transportation advises motorists to be ready for the upcoming winter season.

INDOT encourages the motoring public to prepare themselves for safe winter travel.

Prepare Your Vehicle

The time to get your car ready for winter is before the snow starts flying! Use this handy checklist to make sure you check out all the important parts:

Check and add anti-freeze
Top out window washer fluid
Replace worn wiper blades
Check tire tread & air pressure
Test anti-lock brakes
Check battery & make sure terminals are free of corrosion
Check exhaust system, heater & defroster
Change oil at 3,000-5,000 miles
Prepare For Emergencies

Assemble an Emergency Kit as a precaution against breakdowns and slide-offs. Always keep these things handy in your vehicle:

First aid kit
Blankets and extra warm clothing
High-calorie food and water
Crucial medications
Cell phone charger
Road salt, sand or kitty litter for tire traction
Small shovel or ice scraper
Jumper cables
Flashlight with extra batteries
Matches, candle and small can for drinking melted snow
In addition, keep your cell phone charged and with you and the vehicle with at least a half tank of gas.

Personalized traffic alerts

When yellow plow trucks are deployed, INDOT winter operations staff will again update the TrafficWise traveler information service with road conditions for interstates, U.S. highways and state roads. For road conditions, crashes and construction information, dial 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) or 511 from a mobile phone.

New for this winter, INDOT's TrafficWise website now includes a "Personalize your 511" feature. Users can sign up for email or text-message alerts for specific routes, such as commutes to and from work, or larger areas drawn on the map. Visit http://indot.carsprogram.org/#favorites and create a free account.

INDOT reminds motorists it is illegal to type, transmit, or read e-mail or text messages on a communication device while driving in Indiana.

Avoid mailbox damage

While weather still allows, homes and businesses are reminded to prepare roadside mailboxes now ahead of snow plowing. INDOT snowfighters are careful to avoid mailboxes, but despite their best efforts, the weight of snow rolling off the plow sometimes damages mailboxes with weak supports. INDOT offers property owners these tips to help reduce the risk of mailbox damage:

Avoid plastic mailboxes, which may shatter in cold weather.
Install mailboxes as far from the edge of the road as the carrier can reach from a vehicle.
Inspect existing mailboxes and replace deteriorated posts, mountings or footers.
Place reflective tape to help snowfighters see the mailbox at night.
INDOT is not able to repair damaged mailboxes. Property owners that follow the tips above and still suffer mailbox damage should change locations or install a snow shield or wooden protectors available through local hardware stores.

Frost on bridges

With overnight temperatures dipping, the risks increase for frost and freezing fog on bridges. Bridge decks are cooled by air above and beneath and are the first to freeze.

To prevent icy bridges, INDOT's yellow trucks spray bridge decks with a brine solution of 23 percent salt and 77 percent water. In some locations the brine is made by recycling water used to wash INDOT trucks.

When air temperatures approach or dip below 32 degrees, INDOT advises drivers to reduce speeds and minimize lane changes while crossing bridges.

Stay informed

Subscribe to receive text and email alerts about INDOT projects and services at http://bit.ly/INDOTsubscription.

Find links to INDOT's regional Facebook and Twitter pages at http://bit.ly/INDOTsocial. INDOT will be providing snow and ice removal updates with posts tagged #INDOTWinterOps.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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