Contacts
- Jessica Wiens
Public Affairs Coordinator
507-286-7684 - Kristine Hernandez
TZD Coordinator/ Public Affairs Team Leader
507-286-7601
Location
Minnesota Department of
Transportation
Rochester District 6
2900 48th Street
Rochester, MN 55901
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MnDOT offers road safety tips for holidays
ROCHESTER, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation encourages travelers to check the weather forecast and 511 before hitting the road for holiday travel.
While the National Weather Service is forecasting good travel conditions for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 2 to 6 inches of snow is forecast for Thursday night, Dec. 23, and Friday morning, Dec. 24, in southeastern Minnesota. Crews around the state will be clearing roads and continuing clean-up in areas hit hard by the Dec. 11 and Dec. 20 storms.
MnDOT also reminds parents to keep children safely away from the road while snowplow drivers are working. “With many children on winter break from school, playing in all this snow is a great winter activity,” said Tom Sorel, MnDOT commissioner. “We want to make sure that this holiday break remains a great time for families throughout the state.”
As of this date, 395 Minnesotans have died in traffic crashes in 2010. “Minnesota is well on its way to reaching our Toward Zero Death goal for 2010, which is fewer than 400 fatalities due to traffic crashes,” Sorel said. “Please do all you can to stay safe on the roads this holiday-the health and safety of our loved ones is the best gift of the season.”
Motorists should remember to:
- Check the weather forecast – www.nws.noaa.gov and click the map for the forecast along your travel route
- Check road conditions – Go to www.511mn.org or call 511.
- Clear snow from vehicle windows, hood, headlights, brake lights and directional signals
- Be patient – Remember snowplows are working to improve road conditions for your trip.
- Stay back - At least five car lengths behind the plow, far from the snow cloud; snowplow operators will pull over when it is safe to do so to allow traffic build-up to pass.
- Stay alert – Snowplows turn or exit frequently and often with little warning; they may also travel over centerlines or partially in traffic to further improve road conditions.
- Slow down – Snowplows typically move at slower speeds.
- Buckle up – and make sure child restraints are secured correctly.
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