Motorists

Although an accumulation of freezing rain is expected to be less than a than a tenth of an inch from about 1 a.m. through 10 a.m. today,  the National Weather Service is warning Tri-State area of potentially icy conditions. Meteorologist Kevin Witt said Friday night that overpasses and bridges could be particularly slick because of the precipitation. Temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing until late morning, if not until noon, Witt said.   Precipitation was expected to begin as early as 10 p.m. in the Shenandoah Valley before arriving in the Hagerstown area after midnight, according to forecast models.

Residents may sign up to receive information on travel, construction and traffic laws on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's new Facebook page, according to state Sen. Richard Alloway II. Local residents can like the page to receive travel and construction details, highway safety resources, traffic laws, a guide to PennDOT services, PennDOT job opportunities and other helpful information. Motorists also sign up to receive updates on traffic and road conditions on major expressways and interstate highways on PennDOT's 511 website at www.511PA.com or by dialing 511. The free travel information service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

A one-day survey by school bus drivers found 88 incidents in which drivers in Washington County did not stop for a school bus that had stopped to pick up or drop off students, Washington County Public Schools officials said. The Maryland State Department of Education on Feb. 10 sponsored a survey in which more than 4,712 school bus drivers were asked to note how many times motorists violated the school vehicle law, passing a school bus illegally, according to a state education department news release and Barbara Scotto, Washington County Public Schools’ supervisor of transportation.

Police in Washington County are warning motorists to use caution driving because of ice that is forming on roads throughout the county. Police said there have been several accidents because of the ice, and state and county road crews are treating the icy areas. There are seven locations where ice has formed on roads, according to a Washington County 911 dispatcher. “We're getting more and more calls,” the dispatcher said. Police handled a rollover crash on Lappans Road at Bob's Lane, a crash on Cearfoss Pike near Shinham Road and an accident on Blairs Valley Road after the ice started forming, emergency officials said.

As the fog lifted Friday morning, Bill Jordan highlighted the trouble-spots along his bus route for Jefferson County Schools. His stops along Jefferson Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard to pick up school children are a few of the more prominent places where motorists in Charles Town, W.Va., have ignored his bus' flashing red lights and extended stop arms. “It's kind of a regular thing,” Jordan as he made his first stop of the morning to pick up a boy along Cattail Run Road.

As Hurricane Irene approaches Maryland, state agencies offer safety suggestions for motorists, pet owners and farmers to prepare for the storm's potential impact. Motorists The State Highway Administration recommends the following advice for motorists: Do not try to cross a flooded roadway. Eighty percent of flood-related deaths occur in vehicles.  Two feet of rapidly moving water can float a bus and 6 inches can knock down a person. Do not try to drive around police or highway personnel who are blocking roads - they are there for your safety.

Speed trap nabs 54 motorists By KIMBERLY YAKOWSKI / Staff Writer Hagerstown City Police issued citations to 54 motorists caught Thursday afternoon in a West End speed trap designed to slow down traffic that could endanger pedestrians and other motorists. Three officers were positioned at the corner of West Side Avenue and West Franklin Street while a fourth officer operated a laser gun tracking motorists' speeds. Police had no difficulty finding motorists driving above the 25 mph posted speed limit, said Lt. John Moulton.

Motorists and pedestrians passing the Washington County Administration Building on Tuesday got the chance to see the County Commissioners in rare form - singing a few Christmas and seasonal carols in public. Led by Public Works Director Gary Rohrer, who wore a Santa hat, the commissioners and several county employees sang 11 carols for about 25 minutes on the front steps of the Administration Building. The songs included "Frosty the Snowman," "Jingle Bells," "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," "Deck the Halls" and "Joy to the World.

By AMY WALLAUER Staff Writer Since Oct. 1, police in Maryland have had the authority to pull over motorists for not wearing seat belts. Now a similar law has been enacted - and taken one step further - in national parks. Park rangers now have the authority to write a $25 ticket to anyone in a vehicle who isn't buckled up. In Maryland, adults can only be ticketed by police if they're in the front seat, but in national parks an adult can be ticketed in the backseat as well.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The first four-lane section of W.Va. 9 under construction between Martinsburg and Charles Town, W.Va., has opened to motorists. "We just took the barricades off late Thursday afternoon," said Bill Shanklin, the West Virginia Division of Highways' area engineer for Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties. State highway officials are advising westbound travelers to exit the new highway at Currie Road because of anticipated congestion concerns, specifically at the intersection of Leetown Road and Charles Town Road (old W.Va.

The snow emergency plan for Frederick County was lifted at noon Tuesday, Maryland State Police announced in an emailed news release. The plan had gone into effect at 10:30 a.m. after a wintry mix of preciptiation made roads hazardous. "Motorists are encouraged to use caution if the temperatures fall below freezing again and also be aware of the fact that the roadways remain wet," police said a the release.

Police in Washington County are warning motorists to use caution driving because of ice that is forming on roads throughout the county. Police said there have been several accidents because of the ice, and state and county road crews are treating the icy areas. There are seven locations where ice has formed on roads, according to a Washington County 911 dispatcher. “We're getting more and more calls,” the dispatcher said. Police handled a rollover crash on Lappans Road at Bob's Lane, a crash on Cearfoss Pike near Shinham Road and an accident on Blairs Valley Road after the ice started forming, emergency officials said.

A speed camera that is designed to address speeding vehicles around Smithsburg's three public schools on North Main Street will start monitoring traffic Jan. 14, according to Smithsburg Police Chief George Knight. But there will be a 30-day grace period before the system starts issuing tickets, which will be mailed to motorists, Knight said Monday. Tickets will be mailed to motorists who are exceeding the 20 mph school zone speed limit by 12 mph or more, Knight said. The fine for speeding in the school zone is $40 and Optotraffic, the company operating the system, will get 40 percent of the proceeds from each ticket, Knight said.

Due to snowy and icy road conditions associated with the current winter storm beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is temporarily reducing speed limits on several south central roadways.  PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways: Interstate 81 in Franklin, Cumberland and Dauphin counties; Interstate 83; U.S. Route 15 in Adams, York and Cumberland counties; and Route 581 PennDOT might expand highway restrictions if storm conditions warrant.

Police said a Saturday night pursuit of a motorist that started on South Mountain Road in Quincy Township ended when the vehicle struck a utility pole near Dixon Road. The incident began when police noticed the vehicle traveling erratically at about 11:50 p.m., Pennsylvania State Police said in a news release. Police attempted to stop the vehicle, but the motorist did not comply, police said. A pursuit of the vehicle started on South Mountain Road near a National Guard facility, police said.

As Irene Giffin was crossing Leitersburg Pike's northbound lanes in her motorized wheelchair in a crosswalk, vehicles coming out of a shopping center would pass in front of or behind her, the Hagerstown resident said. “At one time, it was so close to me I could touch the car and it scared the living bejeebers out of me,” said Giffin, who uses a red flag that flies 3 feet to 4 feet above her wheelchair when she is in traffic situations. Giffin said she thought at first she made a mistake or the traffic signals' synchronization was mixed up. But each time the electronic pedestrian sign gave her the go ahead to cross, the traffic signal turned green for traffic leaving both Long Meadow Shopping Center and Stone House Square.

The West Virginia Division of Highways is reminding motorists of upcoming delays on Raleigh Street in Martinsburg, beginning as early as Nov. 26. Milling and paving will be done to the road from Race Street to King Street. There will be no parking allowed along the street during construction. Traffic will be under the direction of flaggers. Motorists should use an alternate route if possible. All work is expected to be completed by Nov. 30, weather and schedule permitting.

A man suffered second- and third-degree burns to his face, hands and arms when he opened the radiator cap of a vehicle Friday morning on the shoulder of Interstate 70 near Hancock, Maryland State Police said. Salifou Pessouore, 43, address unavailable, was flown to an undisclosed hospital in the MedStar health system, according to a state police news release. Troopers said Pessouore's 2002 Nissan Altima overheated at about 9 a.m. Friday when he was driving west on I-70 near Md. 655. Police said Pessouore pulled over on the right shoulder, looked under the hood and was sprayed by steam and radiator fluid when he removed the radiator cap. Paramedics treated Pessouore at the scene.

The Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) advises motorists on I-70 in Washington County that the right lane of eastbound I-70 will be closed this weekend at the Conococheage Creek Bridge, west of Hagerstown, the SHA said in a news release. The lane will be closed beginning at 6 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and could remain closed through the evening of Sunday, Oct. 28, according to the release. a Motorists should be prepared for possible delays. The lane closure will allow crews to remove a construction platform under the bridge in preparation for the coming weather.

Residents may sign up to receive information on travel, construction and traffic laws on the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation's new Facebook page, according to state Sen. Richard Alloway II. Local residents can like the page to receive travel and construction details, highway safety resources, traffic laws, a guide to PennDOT services, PennDOT job opportunities and other helpful information. Motorists also sign up to receive updates on traffic and road conditions on major expressways and interstate highways on PennDOT's 511 website at www.511PA.com or by dialing 511. The free travel information service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.