Winter Weather – Get It Together: Make A Plan For Snow And Ice Season

SPRINGFIELD – With temperatures falling, frosty mornings becoming common and snow starting to creep into the forecast, the public is reminded that it’s time for “Winter Weather – Get it Together.” The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police and Illinois Tollway spend the entire year preparing for snow and ice season but are asking you to get ready for winter travel over the coming months.

“At IDOT, we have been busy bringing in extra help, topping off materials and getting equipment ready to go,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Gia Biagi. “We need your help as well. Taking some basic, preventive steps before venturing out and during your travels will ensure you protect yourself and stay prepared for whatever winter has in store.”

It's never too early to begin transitioning to basic winter driving skills and anticipating for even routine trips to take longer, though temperatures are above freezing during the day and roads appear clear. As part of the “Winter Weather – Get it Together” campaign, travelers are encouraged to follow these guidelines: Bookmark IDOT’s GettingAroundIllinois.com to check winter road conditions 24/7 before heading out. Get in the habit of monitoring weather forecasts.

• Give yourself plenty of extra time for trips. Slow down and increase the distance between other vehicles.
• Prepare an emergency kit with jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, an ice scraper, traction material, blankets, non-perishable food and a first-aid kit. Have a cellphone charger in your vehicle at all times.
• Check your battery, charging system and belts for repairs or replacements. Inspect your tires for wear and pressure. Make sure all the lights on your vehicle are in working order.
• Watch out for black ice and slippery conditions, even if there is no snow on the ground. A road may appear clear but can be treacherous with minimal amounts of moisture.
• Be especially careful when approaching intersections, ramps, bridges and shaded areas, which are prone to icing and can become extremely slick.
• Do not travel during bad weather unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to drive, check the forecast and make sure someone is aware of your route. Familiarize yourself with public transportation options in your community.
• Don’t crowd the plows and other equipment treating roads during winter. You might see the plow drivers, but they might not see you. Also, road conditions are much better behind than in front of the plow. Any plow that’s hit is one less resource available to clear the roads.
• Always wear a seat belt. It’s the law in Illinois. And it’s your best defense in a crash.
• Drop it and drive. Put down the mobile devices. This, too, is the law.
• Give them distance. Obey the Move Over law by slowing down and changing lanes when approaching ANY stopped vehicle.
• Follow IDOT on Facebook and X to see how the agency is responding to winter weather throughout the state.
• For more winter driving tips, check out this short IDOT video.

“Every year, ISP troopers handle hundreds of crashes due to snow and ice,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “The most important thing to do is to slow down and give yourself extra time to get where you're going. Driving fast in winter conditions only puts you and the lives of the people around you at risk.”

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For the upcoming winter, IDOT will have nearly 1,900 trucks available for deployment to plow more than 45,000 lane miles of roads statewide, the equivalent of driving back and forth between New York City and Los Angeles eight times. Last winter, IDOT crews spread more than 312,000 tons of salt statewide. This winter, salt domes are at capacity, with more than 542,000 tons on hand, almost twice the weight of Willis Tower.

To increase staffing for winter operations, hiring at IDOT continues for both temporary and permanent positions. For information on job postings throughout the state, visit illinois.jobs2web.com or IDOT’s Employment page.

“When winter storms strike, we protect our customers by rapidly deploying our road crews and snowplows to keep our roads clear and safe even during severe weather,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Cassaundra Rouse. “Safety is always our top priority and even during storms drivers who become stranded on our roads can dial *999 and know that help is on the way. Customers need to help us protect them by slowing down during storms and increasing their distance from plows and other vehicles.”

The Illinois Tollway mobilizes a fleet of 196 snowplows and taps its stockpile of 105,000 tons of salt to clear its roads during winter storms so the 1.6 million daily drivers who rely on the tollway can safely reach their destinations.

Before traveling on the Illinois Tollway this winter, drivers should check Tollway Trip Tweets to obtain real-time roadway incident information and pavement conditions via @94_294_Tollway, @I_90_Tollway, @I_88_Tollway, @I_355_Tollway and @IL_390_Tollway.

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