PennDOT Stresses Safety First for Residents Plowing or Shoveling Snow

Snow is projected to fall in Armstrong County this weekend, and PennDOT officials want to make sure local residents are not injured after it falls.

PennDOT officials remind local residents of the state guidelines for
the shoveling or plowing of snow on property adjacent to state-owned roadways as this causes a hazardous condition for motorists and for residents.

Please keep safety in mind and do not plow or shovel snow onto or across the road.

PennDOT offers the following guidelines for shoveling or plowing snow on property adjacent to state-owned roadways:

*   Snow should be shoveled or plowed to the right side of the driveway as you are facing the intersecting roadway (see attached diagram). By piling the snow away from the oncoming direction of the snow plows, the snow will not be pushed back onto the driveway.

*   Eliminate snow piles at the property entrance whenever possible. High
accumulations of snow can obstruct the vision of motorists, posing a safety hazard.

*    Do not push snow onto roadways at any time. This creates a hazardous condition for all vehicles.

*   PennDOT reminds residents that it is illegal to push snow from a parking lot or driveway onto a state highway. State law has several provisions covering citizens’ responsibility to avoid obstructing the highway. Penalties can be as high as several hundred dollars and residents could be held liable for damages or injuries.

When clearing snow from your driveway and standing at your house looking down your driveway, pile snow to the right of your driveway. PennDOT suggests clearing an area of roadway to the left of your driveway. This will give the snowplow a place to empty before reaching your driveway.

PennDOT Invites High School Students to Enter Distracted Driving PSA Contest

Pennsylvania high school students are invited to enter a PennDOT
contest aimed at discouraging distracted driving. Students can submit a 30-second radio public service announcement, or PSA, and the winning announcement will be professionally produced and sent to the student’s local media market.

“We hope students will use this contest as an opportunity to learn about the very real dangers of distracted driving and never take safety for granted,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. “Developing and recording these PSAs is a great way for students to share this important message with their peers and even their parents.”

Distracted driving poses a serious safety risk to drivers of all ages, and
particularly to relatively inexperienced drivers. According to PennDOT, in 2010 there were 14,294 crashes statewide involving drivers who were distracted or were using a hand-held cell phone. Approximately 37 percent of those crashes involved a driver who was 16 to 25 years old.

To enter the contest, high school sophomores, juniors and seniors should submit recorded scripts in MP3 or MP4 format. Students may also submit written scripts.

One finalist will be chosen from each of PennDOT’s 11 engineering districts. The
winning students will be invited to travel to Harrisburg to have the PSA
professionally recorded and then distributed to their local radio stations, such as WTYM 1380 based in Kittanning. Winning students from each PennDOT district will receive certificates and recorded copies of their PSAs.

Entries may be submitted by email to
RA-penndotpress@pa.gov. Students can also submit entries by mail to: PennDOT Press Office, c/o Erin Waters, 8th Floor-Keystone Building, 400 North St., Harrisburg, PA, 17120. Entries must be received or postmarked by March 23.

Organizers encoure interested participants to visit  www.DriveSafePA.org for full contest rules.