PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Ahead of the inclement winter weather expected in the area Sunday afternoon, PennDOT is issuing road restrictions and precautions.
The main message being sent by PennDOT is, "Do not drive if you do not have to."
PennDOT and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission have implemented speed and vehicle restrictions for winter weather.
Starting at 3 p.m., the Pennsylvania Turnpike, I-76 and part of the Northeast Extension I-476 will be off limits to school buses, motorcycles, RVs and certain tractors.
PennDOT has been pre-treating roads for snow and ice. However, they've also encouraged drivers to reduce their speed.
Officials said preliminary data showed last winter in Pennsylvania, there were 301 crashes resulting in four fatalities and 143 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways. Aggressive driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors.
PennDOT's Brad Rudolph said it's been a cold weekend and road temperatures are freezing, which are ingredients for slick street conditions.
"The roads will still be wet. Elevated surfaces, bridges, ramps, those things might still have some black ice," he said.
Once the snow stops falling, he said, "Make sure your vehicle is clear of any kind of snow or ice. We’re busy trying to clear the roadways of that and we don’t need it back on the roadway, and it’s also a hazard for those around you."
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, a big concern is heavy wind mixed with the cold temperatures.
"As always, if you do lose your power, call it in immediately to your utility," urged New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. "If you happen to see a downed power line, stay clear of it."
And a reminder with these cold temperatures, experts warn not to use appliances meant for other uses to heat up your home, as that brings a big risk for fires.
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