Several states in the US go all out in preparing motorists for the challenges that winter can bring. States like New Mexico and Pennsylvania are planning ahead for the safety of warning drivers and are making sure that transport groups are ready for the harsh, colder days.
According to major insurance providers in the said states, they are very happy in what state officials are doing since the winter season also marks a season with high numbers of insurance claims due to collisions and road accidents.
In New Mexico, the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is advising motorists to be ready for winter conditions by having an emergency kit installed and ready in their vehicles.
Department Secretary John Wheeler says safety kits should have at least a windshield scraper, battery operated radio and a set of extra batteries, gloves, shovel, water, flashlight, snacks, matches, and a blanket. Other things that can be added are important medicines, a first aid kit, a handy knife, and emergency flares. Wheeler adds that for those drivers who plan to drive long holiday trips, they need to inspect their car’s brakes and tire tread, battery and ignition systems, and antifreeze levels.
According to the National Weather Service in Albuquerque, disturbed weather and cooler temperatures due to cold winds are predicted to invade New Mexico over the weekend. In the state’s northern mountains, snow is expected to fall Saturday evening and will last until Sunday.
On the other hand, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation has allotted an estimated budget of $175 million to be used by the department’s 5,000 crew members in working with more than 120 anti-icing trucks, 2,200 snowplows, approximately 520 front-end loaders, and other equipment, all make sure that winter travel will be safer during the holidays. Sources say that the department will go on with anti-icing all major roads across Pennsylvania. Highway patrols are strategically placed to carefully monitor highway conditions and are well trained take suitable actions according to the any type of winter disaster.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Allen D. Biehler said that in some parts of the state, his team is well prepared to ensure the safety of more than 40,000 miles of state-maintained highways in Pennsylvania regardless of any weather condition. Biehler added that he and his team has more than prepared themselves and their equipment for what weather analysts predict to be an old-fashioned Pennsylvania winter. Aside from anti-icing, Biehler with the rest of the Department also plans to use a more state-of-the-art and improved ground-speed-control salt spreader machines.
