PEORIA, Ill. — Illinois State Police (ISP) and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) are urging drivers to stay prepared during the winter months as driving conditions worsen with snow and ice.
One of the main things drivers can do to prepare themselves is have a winter preparedness kit in their vehicle, said IDOT Public Information Officer Paul Wappel.
Some of the items that ISP and IDOT recommend having in a winter weather kit include:
- Jumper cables
- Road flares
- Ice Scraper
- Blanket
- Portable phone charger
- Water
- Non-perishable food items
- Flashlight
“Have an emergency kit whether the weather looks bad or not,” said Wappel. “You never know when you may get stranded.”
ISP Assistant Deputy Chief Mindy Carroll tells drivers to activate their hazard lights if they do happen to become stranded on the side of the road.
“The move-over law doesn’t just apply to first responders or highway maintainers,” said Carroll. “It’s any passenger vehicle that has their hazard lights activated.
“If somebody is stranded on the side of the road, please call [the police].”
In addition, she said ISP appreciates calls about dangerous drivers.
“If somebody is egregiously driving. . . don’t ever hesitate,” she said. “No dispatcher is ever going to question that.”
IDOT allows drivers to see road conditions on their winter road conditions map.
