TO PREVENT BLACK ICE ON NEARBY ROADWAYS, GEORGIA DOT URGES RESIDENTS OF NORTHWEST GEORGIA TO TURN SPRINKLER SYSTEMS OFF.
CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — As winter begins and temperatures dip below freezing, the Georgia Department of Transportation reminds the residents of Northwest Georgia to turn off sprinkler systems with automatic timers set to run overnight.
“Sprinkler systems that are left on overnight in freezing temperatures can create a hazardous condition for motorists the next morning,” said Dewayne Comer, district engineer at the DOT office in Cartersville. “Every year we see accidents caused by icy spots formed when water from sprinkler systems gets onto the roadway. Spray from the sprinkler is blown onto the road or water drains onto the road; black ice is formed and ice develops creating a hazard for motorists. Please take a moment and ensure your automatic sprinkler system is turned off. Anytime we have sub-freezing temperatures, please be on the lookout for icy patches or black ice, especially early in the morning”

Georgia DOT urges travelers to exercise caution and call 511 for updated information on roadway conditions before getting on the road during a winter weather event. Georgia 511 is a free phone service that provides real-time traffic and travel information statewide, including winter weather closures, reports of icing or other hazardous conditions on interstates and state routes. Callers also can transfer to operators to request assistance or report incidents 24 hours a day, seven days a week. More information is available at www.511ga.org. For more information on Georgia DOT, please visit www.dot.ga.gov or subscribe to our Press Release RSS feed. You also may follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/GeorgiaDOT) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/gadeptoftrans).