By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – It’s almost time for winter weather, and that means it’s time for the Illinois Department of Transportation and Illinois State Police to remind us of winter driving skills.
They say to ask yourself how necessary that trip is. Then, once you are on the road, go slow and leave more room between yourself and the other guy.
And watch for snow plows! “A lot of people do a pretty good job of giving us room. There are a few occasional people that, it may just be they are not paying attention that it’s a big plow truck and understand we can’t see them,” said Brian Mendenhall, an IDOT highway maintainer. “Just know that if you come upon a plow truck, give them room, give them space, let them do their job so that you can travel safely.”
And State Police say that if your car is stopped on the shoulder and a trooper comes up, “be prepared for them to ask if you want to stay with your vehicle or if you want the trooper to take them up to the next exit,” said MSgt. J.C. Clarke. “We are trying to get the time the troopers spend on the side of the road cut down, because the more time they are on the side of the road, the more dangerous it gets for them.”
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].
