WINTER WEATHER SAFE DRIVING REMINDERS - February 20

STAUNTON – Winter precipitation is expected in the Shenandoah Valley this week. Virginia Department of Transportation crews will be ready to treat and plow roads as necessary.


Motorists are reminded that ice and freezing rain conditions can still produce hazardous driving conditions, even when roads are treated. During hazardous winter weather people should not drive unless absolutely necessary. People who are driving in winter road conditions should use extra caution particularly on bridges, overpasses, curves, hills and ramps.


VDOT has detailed information, including safety tips for motorists and its snow-removal process at http://www.virginiadot.org/news/snowseason.asp. For the latest on road condition and traffic during winter storms, motorists should call 511 or visit www.511virginia.org.


Virginia’s efforts to prepare for winter weather and other emergencies can be viewed by visiting www.ReadyVirginia.gov. The National Weather Service, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia Department of Social Services and other state agencies have created the Ready Virginia resource to provide citizens with a one-stop shop for emergency preparedness tips and information.


Highway safety is everyone’s responsibility. Virginia’s highway safety partnership — the Virginia Department of Transportation, Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and Virginia State Police — challenges you to help prevent highway fatalities. Buckle up. Avoid distractions. Share the road. Drive drug- and alcohol-free. Obey speed limits. For more information on the Highway Safety Challenge and things you can do to avoid becoming Virginia ’s next traffic fatality, visit www.safeVAhighways.org.