SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The weather we’ve seen in central Illinois the past few days might be a dress rehearsal for what’s to come — at least, as far as the Illinois Department of Transportation is concerned.
The state is starting its “Winter Weather, Get it Together” campaign — urging the public to prepare for bad road conditions.
Going out in bad weather is not a good idea, but Illinois State Police Captain Jody Huffman says if you do need to leave, be prepared.
“(Drivers) need to make sure that they’re dressed properly,” said Capt. Jody Hoffman, Illinois State Police. “We’re always surprised when we pull somebody out of the ditch and they don’t have proper footwear on, or they don’t have a coat, they don’t have a charged-up cell phone. For us, it’s really important that people are prepared when they get into their vehicle.”
As evidenced by the accidents and incidents earlier this week with the first accumulating snowfall, road conditions can look deceiving.
“If we get it melted, but the temperature drops real fast, and you get some dusting and blowing over the road, there’s your black ice right there,” said Mike Blomberg, IDOT Highway Maintainer.
Drivers are also urged to slow down, and with the state having more than 1,800 snow plows on the roads, officiant want you to make sure they have plenty of room to work.
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