INDOT reminds motorists to be cautious during wintry mix

13th and Crawford St./ ICN file photo

​Indiana Department of Transportation

CRAWFORDSVILLE – The Indiana Department of Transportation Crawfordsville District will have our yellow salt trucks deployed in west central Indiana tonight.  INDOT reminds motorists to be cautious while traveling during this upcoming weather system moving into our area.

The forecast is calling for a mix a snow and freezing rain to begin overnight and continue through the Thursday morning commute. Our District will have our yellow salt trucks deployed as our maintenance crews will continue to plow and treat the roadways during this event.
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A few degrees can mean the difference between snow, freezing rain or rain.

Yellow salt trucks ready
INDOT will continue with a full crew reporting in at midnight to plow and treat the interstates, U.S. highways and state routes. Each route takes 2-3 hours to complete with salt assisting in melting between passes.

Know before you go
Before deciding to drive, check road and traffic conditions at http://indot.carsprogram.org, 800-261-ROAD (7623) or our INDOT mobile app. County governments post color-coded travel advisories on the Homeland Security website at http://in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory. For regular updates, find links to INDOT’s Facebook and Twitter pages at http://bit.ly/INDOTsocial.

Driver tips
Freezing rain and ice are the most dangerous of all winter road conditions because it affects all vehicle sizes and types, including those with four-wheel drive and INDOT's own salt trucks. In these types of conditions, motorists are strongly encouraged to stay off the roads to allow access for salt trucks and emergency vehicles.
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Here are several steps that drivers can take to minimize the risk of losing control on icy roads:

• Consult hourly weather forecasts and schedule high-speed and long-distance trips during the warmer hours of the day. This will help save the extra time needed to slow down and drive according to the conditions.
• Monitor current air temperatures and slow down if conditions are near or below freezing. Watch how salt trucks, emergency vehicles and other drivers are responding to the weather.
• Apply anti-lock brakes firmly when encountering ice. Pump brakes that are not anti-lock. Do not over correct with steering.