SOUTH-CENTRAL, Ind. – With winter weather already at our doorstep, Indiana Governor Mike Braun joined the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Indiana State Police (ISP), and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) at a conference on Monday to outline the state’s coordinated efforts to keep Hoosiers safe this winter.
This is Winter Weather Preparedness Week, and operations were discussed, with the state’s snow and ice removal fleet also inspected.
In recent months, INDOT Southeast, which serves Bartholomew, Johnson, Jackson, Jennings, Decatur, and Brown Counties, has been preparing for winter operations. The agency has hired seasonal snowplow drivers, completed training with current staff, inspected trucks and other equipment, and secured materials, such as salt.
INDOT, ISP, and IDHS recommend the following precautions for all Hoosier drivers:
- Slow down and adjust your speed to road conditions, especially on snow-covered roads
- Know before you go – check conditions/forecasts; allow more time to reach destination safely
- Don’t crowd the plow – never tailgate or drive beside a snowplow
- Leave extra space between your car and the one in front of you; it takes more time and distance to slow down on snowy roads
- Prepare an emergency kit with snacks, water, a phone charger, sand, flares, a flashlight, and blankets or extra clothing
- Keep vehicles maintained – Keep gas tank full; check battery, fluids, and spare tire
- Clear all snow and ice from your vehicle’s windows, lights, and signals
To view real-time travel information about road conditions and plow locations, visit 511in.org or download the INDOT TrafficWise app. For a map of travel advisories by county, go to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s Travel Advisory Map. Weather advisories, watches, and warnings are available at the National Weather Service’s Indiana Briefing page.
