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NLIS 2 December 29, 2005 (Transportation and Works) Motorists urged to be prepared for winter�s worst Transportation and Works Minister Trevor Taylor today urged motorists to prepare themselves and their vehicles for winter driving as the province enters into winter�s worst, and to take advantage of the continuous road reports and information provided by the department. "Everyone should ensure they are prepared to meet the challenges of winter driving," Minister Taylor said. "Adjust your speed and driving habits according to the weather conditions, check road conditions with the department before leaving and always wear your seatbelt. Your seatbelt is your greatest protection in the event you are in an accident." The department maintains the Highway Driving and Road Conditions Report on its Web site. The report covers all the major arteries in all regions of the province and includes information on road surface and driver visibility conditions as reported by our highway maintenance supervisors. The report is updated twice a day, seven days a week and can be found at //www.roads.gov.nl.ca/conditions.asp The department is well prepared for the winter season. Over $25 million is spent annually on snow and ice control in the province, $11.6 million of that is for salt and sand. Government is investing significantly in its heavy equipment fleet. An additional $3.5 million was provided in this year�s budget to purchase 30 new replacement snowplows to be inserted into the fleet. In total, government spent $6.5 million on new vehicles this year. "Our employees do their best to keep roads free of ice and snow, but winter driving conditions can change very quickly, especially when dealing with drifting or blowing snow," Minister Taylor said. "Our maintenance supervisors have been directed to err on the side of caution and send trucks out if there is any question that a road may be becoming slippery, but we all need to take responsibility to ensure we arrive at our destinations safely." Drivers are encouraged to use extra caution and vigilance on all roads throughout the winter months. Some useful safety tips for people to keep in mind this winter include: For more information, the latest road conditions and government�s live highway cameras, visit //www.roads.gov.nl.ca/ Road conditions across the province may be obtained by calling: Avalon
1-709-729-7669 Media contact: Tracy Barron, Communications, (709) 729-3015, 691-3577 2005 12 29 10:40 a.m. |
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