Winter Driving Tips and Facts from Bill Dodge Cadillac Service.

If travel is absolutely necessary, motorists should use the following precautions:

• Keep a warm jacket, blanket, flares, snacks, water, kitty litter-sand-or icemelt, windshield scraper and brush, booster/jumper cables, a tow chain or rope, blankets, flashlight and a safety kit in your vehicle.
• Clear windows and mirrors & tops of vehicles
• Take it slow in ice and snow! Stopping on snow or ice without skidding requires extra time and distance. Drive slowly – below posted speed limits – so you can adjust to the conditions. This is especially true at intersections, off ramps, bridges and shady areas where black ice can form without being noticed;
• Don’t turn your four-wheel drive into an “off-road” vehicle! Four-wheel drive may help you get going faster but it doesn’t help you stop sooner or maintain control better once you loose traction. Take it slow!
• Allow extra room between vehicles. Longer stopping distances and extra time are required during winter conditions to avoid chain reaction crashes. Allow extra room between vehicles. Longer stopping distances and extra time are required during winter conditions to avoid chain reaction crashes.
• Maintain a safe following distance behind plow and spreader trucks.
• Don’t take chances when pulling out in front of approaching vehicles. Remember, when the pavement is wet, you may not be able to slow down and they may not be able to accelerate as quickly as you would on dry pavement.
• Bridges and overpasses accumulate ice first. Approach them with extreme caution and do not apply your brakes while on the bridge, take your foot off the gas when you need to slow down.
• You need to be in full control when road conditions are wet or icy. Don’t let your cruise control make a bad decision for you.
• If you begin to slide, take your foot off the gas and turn the steering wheel carefully in the direction of travel. Do not apply the brakes as that will cause further loss of control of the car. Avoid any sudden or excessive actions while steering, braking or accelerating so you don’t loose control. Brake early, brake slowly, brake correctly and never slam on the brakes.
• Keep your gas tank as full as possible when snow are ice are forecast. This will not only give you added peace of mind…it also increases the weight of your car and this will provide additional tracking.
• Stay alert!
  Beware of what’s going on well ahead of you. Other vehicles can alert you to problem spots on the road which may give you the split second you need to avoid a crash. Come to a complete stop or yield the right of way when approaching an intersection where traffic lights are out. Treat this scenario as a four-way stop.

If you get stranded on the road…

• STAY IN YOUR CAR-Do not seek alternate shelter unless it is close by or already visible. You can easily become disoriented in heavy snow and cold temperatures. Carry a cell phone with you when you travel if possible.
• Periodically turn on the car engine for brief periods. This will help provide heat to the inside of the car. However, to avoid carbon monoxide gas buildup, clear the exhaust pipe of snow and leave a downwind window slightly open for ventilation.
• Make yourself visible by tying a colored cloth to your antenna or door, or by turning on your dome light when running the engine.

If you are in an accident or are stranded and have your cellular phone with you, you can contact the Maine State Police statewide by calling SP (*77) or call the Maine emergency center by dialing 911.

Snow plowing priorities in the State of Maine:

Priority I Corridors

Priority I corridors consist of the interstate system and other specifically designated state highway corridors that serve as critical connectors between the state’s larger urban areas. This priority level will include most of the National Highway System (NHS) and other arterial corridors that carry the majority of the state’s traffic.

Snow will be plowed and salt (in addition to other chemicals as conditions require) will normally be used as needed during the storm to maintain a brine layer on the pavement surface to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the road. Following a winter event, bare travel lanes shall be provided as soon as practicable and on these roads before all others. In most cases, this will occur within six (6) daylight hours. The suggested maximum travel speed during the storm for the Interstate system is 45 MPH The suggested maximum travel speed during the storm for all other Priority I roads is 40 MPH. During a winter storm event, average cycle times for the plows will be between 1 to 1½ hours. Between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 4:00 A. M., these cycle times may double, depending upon the type of storm. The average plow route length for this class of road is approximately 10 centerline miles.

Priority II Corridors

Priority II corridors are comprised of those state highway corridors that are a part of the NHS or the remaining arterial system, but are not classified as Priority I corridors. This priority level will also include those state highway or state-aid corridors that serve as the critical connectors, commerce routes, or higher-volume commuter routes.

Snow will be plowed and salt (in addition to other chemicals as conditions require) will normally be used as needed during the storm to maintain a brine layer on the pavement surface to prevent snow and ice from bonding to the road. Following a winter event, bare travel lanes shall be provided as soon as practicable and on these roads after the Priority I roads. In most cases, this will occur within eight (8) daylight hours. The suggested maximum travel speed during the storm for Priority II roads is 35 to 40 MPH During a winter storm event, average cycle times for the plows will be between 1½ to 2 hours. Between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 4:00 A. M., average cycle times for the plows may double, depending upon the type of storm. The average plow route length for this class of road is approximately 12 centerline miles.

Priority III Corridors

Priority III corridors include all other state highways not listed as Priority I or Priority II roads and are generally characterized by the lower-volume state highways. This priority level is dominated by those corridors classified as minor or major collectors.

Snow will be plowed and salt will be used as needed during the storm to keep the roads open to traffic and provide a good surface on which to operate. After the storm, one-third bare pavement, in the middle of the road, will be provided as soon as practical. Bare travel lanes shall be provided as soon as practicable on these roads and after the Priority I and Priority II roads. In most cases, this will occur within twenty-four (24) hours. The suggested maximum travel speed during the storm for Priority III roads is 35 MPH During a winter storm event, average cycle times for the plows will be between 1½ to 2 hours. Between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 4:00 A. M., average cycle times for the plows may double or triple, depending upon the type of storm. The average plow route length for this class of road is approximately 14 center-line miles.

Interesting Facts:
· Small dump trucks hold 7 tons of salt and larger dump trucks hold 8-9 tons of salt
· 120,000 tons of salt = 1.27 billion salt shakers
· 40,000 tons of salt is enough salt to fill up 5,714 dump trucks and 426 million salt shakers

Bill Dodge Cadillac Service asks most of all, that everyone have a safe drive on Maine roads this winter!