AAA News You Can Use

• Turnpike Service Plaza Closed
  The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has closed Hempfield Service Plaza. The service plaza, which only served eastbound traffic in Hempfield Township, was shut down permanently because of reconstruction of Interstate 76 between Irwin and New Stanton that will add a third lane for traffic in each direction. The closure of the plaza means there will be no service plaza eastbound for 90 miles, between Zelienople and South Somerset, until the remodeled and expanded Oakmont Service Plaza reopens in late summer.

• Daytime Running Lights Ok With Wiper Use
  Some question has arisen as to whether Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) satisfy the requirement for headlights under the new Wipers and Lights law. The Pennsylvania State Police have made the determination that DRLs qualify as complying with the new law just as they do with the work zone law.

• 800 Number To Report Potholes
  State Sen. Lisa Baker is reminding motorists that potholes and other roadway concerns can be reported by calling 1-800 FIX ROAD. "The winter months are hard on Pennsylvania roads. Motorists have to deal with potholes and other problems on a daily basis. Often, they will know about a problem before road crews will," said Baker. "If you see a problem, call the Department of Transportation’s hotline and let them know about it." PennDOT’s toll-free 1-800-FIX ROAD (1-800-349-7623) hotline connects callers directly to their respective county maintenance office. Calling 1-800-FIX ROAD should result in prompt action. Callers should try to be as specific as possible in describing the location of a roadway concern. Helpful information includes the State Route and segment number (found on small, white signs along roadways), the direction of travel (eastbound or westbound lane, etc.) and any other useful location information (i.e. landmarks or nearby intersections). Motorists can use the hotline number for any reason including:
  • Deer removal
  • Brush and tree removal
  • Shoulder and drainage concerns
  • Signage issues
  • Other maintenance needs
  • Information, complaints and compliments
  "PennDOT does its best to fix problems when reported. But if any constituent has a lingering concern about a roadway problem, I urge them to call my district office," said Baker.

• Be Alert For Snow Squalls
  PennDOT reminded motorists to always be alert for sudden snow squalls while traveling in Pennsylvania. Motorists should remain alert for squalls because they often appear Without warning, may greatly impede visibility, and can quickly cause roads to become dangerously slick. PennDOT dispatches crews as soon as there are reports of squalls in an area. PennDOT offers this advice to motorists who encounter snow squalls:
  • Gradually slow down and drive at a speed that suits conditions.
  • Turn on your headlights.
  • Stay in your lane.
  • Increase your following distance.
  • Stay alert; keep looking as far ahead as possible and be patient.
  • Reduce in-car distractions since full attention is required.
  • Use defroster and wipers.
  • Keep windows and mirrors free of snow and ice.
  • During whiteouts, come to a complete stop only when you can safely get as far off the road as possible.
  • Do not stop in the flow of traffic since this could create a chain-reaction collision.
  • Do not pass a vehicle moving slowly or speed up to get away from a vehicle that is following too closely.
  • Always buckle up, and never drink and drive.

• AAA’s Stand On Child Safety Seat Research
  AAA recognizes that parents and other child-care providers may be confused by recent publicity surrounding child safety seats. For this reason, AAA's safety experts want to emphasize that the safest place for a child in a motor vehicle is always in a child safety seat, in the back seat of a vehicle. Car seats have been shown to reduce infant fatalities in crashes by 71 percent. According to NHTSA, nearly 400 children under the age of 5 were saved by the use of child safety seats in 2005. In selecting a car seat, consumers should use a seat that fits their vehicle, fits their child and will be installed and used correctly every time. For more information on the selection and installation of child safety seats, contact AAA, call 1-866-SEATCHECK, or log on to www.seatcheck.org.

• Consumer Reports Withdraws Infant Car Seat Report
  Consumer Reports is withdrawing its recent report on infant car seats pending further tests of the performance of those seats in side-impact collisions. A new report will be published with any necessary revisions as soon as possible after the new tests are complete. They withdrew the report immediately upon discovering a substantive issue that may have affected the original test results. The issue came to light based on new information received recently from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) concerning the speed at which our side-impact tests were conducted. The original study, published in the February issue of Consumer Reports, was aimed at discovering how infant seats performed in tests at speeds that match those used in the government’s New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). This program tests most new vehicles in crashes at speeds of 35 mph for frontal impact and 38 mph for side impact. Child safety seats, in contrast, are currently tested only in front-impact crashes at speeds of 30 mph. Our tests were intended to simulate side crashes at the NCAP speed of 38 mph. The new information raises a question about whether the tests accurately simulated that speed, however, so Consumer Reports is now reviewing their tests and the resulting article. To those who may have seen the report earlier in print, on the Web, or in broadcasts, Consumer Reports urges you to remember that use of any child seat is safer than no child seat, but to suspend judgment on the merits of individual products until the new testing has been completed and the report re-published.