Road Watch col. FEB 8…
Depending on what weather forecast service you listen to, the frigid temperatures this past week are supposed to replaced by a warmup this weekend – with highs in the lower 50s today, but with 15-20 mph winds.
There’s still that old wind-chill index again – or that stupid “real-feel” label some broadcasters use. So don’t get out your summer shorts or sandals just yet.
Even so, with the tons of salt dumped on area roadways to dissolve the lingering ice after this past week’s snowfall, you should make a point of having your vehicle washed to protect your car’s finish and prevent rust underneath.
My metallic silver Buick looks like a dull-and-dirty gray ghost and is begging me for a nice bath.
Keeping a car’s undercarriage clean is important during the winter months – especially after a snowstorm, according to AAA Mid-Atlantic.
“Undercarriages of vehicles are especially vulnerable because they’re in constant contact with road salt and other de-icing chemicals on the roadways,” says AAA spokeswoman Catherine L. Rossi.
As corrosive agents, that caked-on road salt, snow and dirt will attack your vehicle’s undercarriage, paint and wheel wells and damage even the newest vehicles. A build-up of dirt can hold moisture in the undercarriage and promote rust.
Even though car manufacturers treat and seal metal parts during the auto assembly process to protect the metal from corrosion, AAA advises motorists to wash their cars or have them washed once a week during the winter months. A thorough wash will prevent rust and paint damage.
AAA’s top five reasons to wash your car this weekend are:
Corrosion: road salt, chemicals, dirt and slush eat away at a vehicle’s paint, metal and chrome.
Safety: don’t compromise safety. Grimy windows, sideview mirrors, headlights, taillights and turn-signal lights don’t give you a clear picture of the road around you.
Resale value: a well maintained car sells or trades in much better than one which shows signs of rusting.
Brake lines and brake hoses: build-up of salt and water could corrode these important components, putting you at risk.
Tires: avoid build-up of snow, ice and road salt on your tires with tire dressing.
Here’s AAA’s top five tips for washing your vehicle in winter:
Rinse your car before washing it; hose the vehicle down from the top.
Wash during the daytime hours before nightfall and temperatures dip to or below freezing, causing your drenched doors, damp locks and soaked driveway to freeze.
Wear rubber gloves so you’ll avoid dishpan hands.
Use a hose nozzle with a trigger so you can conserve water and prevent driveway freeze-up.
Take it to a car wash. On average, automated car washes use 60 percent less water per wash than washing your vehicle at home or in your driveway.
LICENSE PLATES
A new state law will save the commonwealth $59 million over the next three years by eliminating a mandate requiring PennDOT to replace license plates every 10 years.
The last license plates were replaced on all registered vehicles in the state was in 1999.
“Thanks to the use of higher quality, more durable materials in the manufacture of license plates in recent years, it’s possible to eliminate the mandatory 10-year replacement cycle,” said PennDOT Secretary Allen D. Biehler.
“By replacing license plates on an as-needed basis, the commonwealth will realize significant cost savings during this time of fiscal uncertainty,” he said.
Under the law, PennDOT is required to replace illegible license plates, free of charge, but only when a license plate has been deemed illegible by a certified mechanic during inspection or by a law enforcement officer.
An illegible license plate is defined as one or more letters or numerals are not recognizable from 50 feet.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen big or small trucks with the letters covered by cement or other residue. Don’t these guys ever believe in washing down their trucks at the rear-end?
Also, I don’t understand why drivers are permitted to drive around with transparent plastic sheeting over their plates which have become faded or are impossible to read due to glare when it’s sunny out. The motor vehicle code prohibits such cellophane-like covering over license tags, but apparently it’s not enforced.
More information on the replacement of an illegible license plate, a fact sheet and frequently asked questions are available at www.dmv.state.pa.us under the Motor Vehicle Information Center.
IDLING ACT
Pennsylvanians vulnerable to air pollution such as children and the elderly will breathe easier, thanks to a new measure taking effect Friday that limits engine idling by heavy-duty diesel vehicles.
Governor Rendell signed the Diesel-Powered Motor Vehicle Idling Act 124 on Oct. 9. The law restricts heavy-duty diesel vehicles from idling more than five minutes per hour.
Trucks and bus drivers often idle their engines during rest periods to heat or cool their sleeper compartment, to keep the engine warm during cold weather and to provide electrical power for their appliances.
Acting Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger said that the new restrictions will save the owners of these vehicles billions of dollars a year while also reducing the state’s dependence on foreign oil.
Idling of these heavy-duty engines produces large quantities of dangerous air pollution, he said. “Across the nation, these vehicles consume 1 billion gallons of fuel annually by idling their engines,” he said.
Each year, heavy-duty trucks in Pennsylvania emit 3,200 tons of nitrogen oxides, a pre-cursor of smog and ground-level ozone; 210,000 tons of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas linked to climate change; and 65 tons of fine particulate matter by burning diesel fuel while idling, according to DEP.
Act 124 applies to diesel-powered motor vehicles engaged in commerce with a gross weight of 10,001 pounds or more that are not specifically exempted. Most trucks and buses are subject to the act, although farm-related equipment and vehicles are exempt.
Trucks with sleeper berths are exempted during times of low and high temperatures until May 1, 2010, providing a reasonable amount of time for truckers to make alternative arrangements for sleeping, such as using an electrified truck-stop parking space or buying equipment that provides power without idling.
The DEP’s Small Business Advantage Grant program has invested more than $1 million on top of the nearly $2 million truck owners and operators have spent to purchase 238 auxiliary power systems. For more information on this program, visit www.depweb.state.pa.us, keyword: SBAdvantage. For an online map of system locations, visit www.idleaire.com and click on “Locations.”
PATCO RIDERS
PATCO celebrates its 40th anniversary Feb. 15 and is looking for those who were among the first to use the service to share their stories or vintage photos. Those who are interested in participating can e-mail PATCO at info@lists.drpa.org.
Traffic Delays
I-476 North (Blue Route) – Radnor and Lower Merion, ITS installation, two right lanes closed between U.S. Route 30 and I-76, 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Monday-Tuesday.
I-476 North/South – Radnor and Lower Merion, ITS installation, two right lanes closed between I-76 and Route 30, 10 p.m.-5 a.m. Thursday.
Upper Chichester – U.S. Route 322, bridge repairs between I-95 and Pennell Road (Route 452), 24- hour restriction through Feb. 12. Work began Jan. 26.
Marple – Media Line Road, Aqua utility installation between Lovell Avenue and Highland Road 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May. Work began Jan. 12.
Chester – Flower Street, ramp construction with a new traffic pattern at Fourth and Second streets, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
Also, Norris Street, ramp construction with lane restrictions at Front Street and Delaware Avenue, 24-hour restriction through 2011. Work began Jan. 12.
U.S. Route 1 North -- PECO Energy utility installation between Red Roof Road and Pennell Road (Route 452) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 18. Work began Dec. 22.
U.S. Route 1 North -- PECO Energy utility installation between Red Roof Road and Pennell Road (Route 452) 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through Feb. 18. Work began Dec. 22.
Nether Providence – Chestnut Parkway, PECO Energy trench restoration between Harvey Road and 24th Street, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Feb. 20.
“Road Watch” appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.