7 Tips for Safe Winter Driving in PA

Winter driving safety relies on Department of Transportation as well as drivers

In the coming months, state highway workers will be dumping nearly a half-million tons of salt to keep icy Pennsylvania roads safe.

And drivers are being urged to do their part as well.

This is the season of dangerous travel. In 2011, there were 1,994 vehicle crashes and 19 fatalities during the Christmas and New Year travel periods in Pennsylvania.

The state Department of Transportation – with 5,400 operators and 2,250 trucks on standby – has issued a winter travel safety alert:

“PennDOT’s primary goal during winter weather is keeping our nearly 40,000 miles of roadway passable, which means they won’t necessarily be free of ice and snow during storms,” [PennDOT Secretary Barry] Schoch said. “Getting through winter safely is a shared responsibility between us and our customers.”

Following are some safe winter motoring tips:

• Know the danger areas. […]

Text & Wreck Targets Young PA Drivers

Young drivers in Pennsylvania will soon be noticing a “Text and Wreck” button popping up on social media sites.

The logo is the winning entry in a national Distracted Driving Design Challenge sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Its creator was 14-year-old high school student Hah’mari Watson, who said the artwork was inspired after she and her family were in a car crash caused by a texting driver.

View or download her winning “Text & Wreck” icon here.

The Distracted Driving Design Challenge was held to create awareness among young motorists about the dangers of texting and cell phone use behind the wheel. The “Text & Wreck” image will be used on Facebook, Twitter, and other social media sites.

“The Department of Transportation is committed to helping young drivers get the message that texting and driving don’t mix,” said U.S. […]

Yellow Dots Save Lives in Pennsylvania Car Crashes

Two new motorist safety programs make sure Pennsylvania drivers never get behind the wheel without bringing important medical information along.

The Yellow Dot and Emergency Contact Information initiatives were announced November 9 by Governor Tom Corbett:

“Both of these programs speak for people when they can’t speak for themselves, so medical concerns can be addressed and contacts can be reached as quickly as possible,” Corbett said. “When someone is in a crash or they find themselves in an emergency situation, it’s critical that emergency responders quickly find out as much as they can about the victim.”

Participants in the Yellow Dot program fill out the program form with their emergency contact, medical contact and medical information, insert it in the program’s folder and then place it in their vehicle’s glove compartment. Participants then place a yellow dot sticker on their vehicle’s rear window. […]

Pennsylvania Celebrates International Walk to School Month

PennDOT is joining forces with other organizations across the United States, and the world, in supporting International Walk to School Month throughout October.  Using the motto “Get up, Get out, and Get Moving!” the organizers are focusing on demonstrating the role walking and bicycling to school can play in improving health, safety and community life.

According to iWalk, the official website of International Walk to School Month:

“International Walk to School Month gives children, parents, school teachers and community leaders an opportunity to be part of a global event as they celebrate the many benefits of walking. Walkers from around the world walk to school together for various reasons — all hoping to create communities that are safe places to walk.”

“Every child should have the opportunity to walk to school safely,” said Transportation Deputy Secretary John Porcari. “Walk to School Day [held Oct. […]

CDC Statistics Show One Million Teens Drink and Drive

One million teens drink and drive, down 54 percent in 20 years

Just last week our Pennsylvania car accident attorneys reported that teens tend to mimic the unsafe driving behaviors of their parents.  Now, in a new report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers confirmed this behavior, specifically with drinking.  According to the report, “teen alcohol consumption and drinking and driving patterns are correlated with those of adults living in the same state.”

The CDC released its latest study on teen drinking, Vital Signs: Drinking and Driving Among High School Students Aged ≥16 Years — United States, 1991–2011. The report was compiled after analyzing data from the 1991–2011 national Youth Risk Behavior Surveys (YRBS) to describe the trend in prevalence of drinking and driving (defined as driving one or more times when they had been drinking alcohol during the 30 days before the survey) among U.S. […]