12/21/12 The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) is focusing attention on what is likely the first statewide winter storm of the season, and is asking drivers to do the same.

INDOT’s salt domes and barns are stocked and ready, but drivers will need to dust off winter driving habits following last year’s mild winter. Drivers are asked to promote their own safety and that of others by reducing their speed according to road conditions and increasing the distance between themselves and other vehicles, especially INDOT’s yellow plow trucks.

Current forecasts are predicting rain changing to snowfall across Indiana as temperatures drop rapidly Thursday evening. Wet pavement, falling temperatures, snow and high winds could create a variety of roadway conditions throughout the state. INDOT will continue to monitor multiple developing forecasts, as well as a statewide network of road and bridge pavement sensors, to deploy the needed personnel, equipment and materials ahead of any predicted accumulation. INDOT’s top winter priority is snow and ice removal to ensure its more than 30,000 lane miles of interstates, U.S. highways and state routes are as safe as possible.

Motorists can plan ahead to safely reach their destinations by staying updated on the latest weather and road conditions. Visit www.TrafficWise.IN.gov or dial toll-free 1-800-261-ROAD (7623) for updated Indiana travel information, including road conditions, road closures, construction information, crashes and other traffic alerts. For social media updates during winter weather, visit www.socialmedia.indot.IN.gov to find your regional INDOT district on Facebook and Twitter.