Dreaming of a White Christmas? The Indiana Department of Transportation plow truck drivers are prepared to work overtime to ensure that holiday travels are as safe as possible.

Throughout the winter, INDOT winter operations crews are regularly tasked to work through nights, weekends and holidays and, with current forecasts predicting winter weather for northern Indiana beginning Christmas night, crews are on standby.

INDOT plow operators have already begun pre-treating bridges and roadways with salt brine, an anti-icing solution. 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 to plow and treat its more than 30,000 lane miles of interstates, U.S. highways and state routes.

Motorists planning to travel on Christmas night are advised to keep an eye on evolving weather forecasts. INDOT encourages holiday travelers to leave early to safely reach their destinations before the snow begins.

Plan ahead by visiting 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. INDOT asks drivers to promote their own safety and that of others by offering the following tips:

• ACCELERATE GRADUALLY on ice or snow to avoid slipping and sliding
• DRIVE SLOWLY and carefully to avoid rear-end collisions and sliding on curves
• ALLOW GREATER DISTANCE behind the car ahead; it takes more time to stop on snow and ice
• BRAKE EARLY, break slowly, never slam on the brakes; if you have anti-lock brakes, press the pedal down firmly and hold it; if you don’t, gently pump the pedal
• NO CRUISE CONTROL; avoid abrupt steering maneuvers
• MAINTAIN GOOD VISIBILITY, stay alert and use your headlights so others can see you
• GIVE SNOWPLOWS ROOM to operate; don’t tailgate or try to pass