As PennDOT shifts its operations from construction to winter maintenance, department officials urge motorists to join in preparing for the coming season and announced a new video to educate the public on PennDOT operations and safe winter driving.

The "Winter Operations" video is available at www.youtube.com/pennsylvaniaDOT and highlights the department's 5,400 operators and 2,250 trucks prepared to maintain more than 40,000 miles of state-maintained roadway.

To prepare for winter driving, motorists should carry an emergency kit including items such as non-perishable food, water, first-aid supplies, warm clothes, a blanket, cell phone charger and a small snow shovel. However, motorists should tailor their kits to any specific needs they or their families may have. Consider adding such items as baby supplies, extra medication, pet supplies or children's games.

When winter weather hits, PennDOT's primary focus is on interstates and expressways and equipment may be redirected to these routes during significant winter events. The more traffic a roadway has, the more attention it will receive from plows, so motorists may find deeper accumulations on less-traveled routes.

Last winter, there were 427 crashes resulting in two fatalities and 130 injuries on snowy, slushy or ice-covered roadways where aggressive-driving behaviors such as speeding or making careless lane changes were factors in the crash.

Currently, PennDOT has approximately 639,000 tons of salt stockpiled and will continue to take salt deliveries throughout the winter.

PennDOT has agreements with more than 680 municipalities to clear state roads within their borders. The department also rents approximately 271 trucks and operators to assist with snow removal.

Motorists can check conditions on roads by visiting www.511PA.com, a free service available 24 hours a day, providing traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 700 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1 or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

For more information on PennDOT's winter preparations and additional winter-driving resources for motorists, visit the "Ready for Winter" website at www.dot. state.pa.us/winter.