JEFFERSON CITY - As the Missouri Department of Transportation prepares for the upcoming winter weather, the agency also alerts motorists to a soon-to-be-familiar refrain: in Ice and Snow, Take It Slow.

Missouri has joined with 10 other Midwestern states in a group called Clear Roads to send consistent messages during the winter season with the best advice for driving in winter weather - Ice and Snow, Take it Slow.

"It's common sense, but it is a great reminder, especially after a long season of warm weather," said Jim Carney, state maintenance engineer. "Many of us have forgotten how to drive on a slick road, and the best thing you can do is slow down."

Although MoDOT works hard to clear roads fast and make them safe for motorists, it is also the motorist's job to drive cautiously, pay extra attention to signs and drive defensively, according to Carney.

Clear Roads is a pooled-fund winter highway maintenance research project. Messages from the campaign developed by the group will begin this winter with posters and radio public service announcements, as well as travel tips and road condition information being provided to media outlets during winter weather events.

MoDOT uses a priority system of routes to determine which roadways are cleared first and get traffic moving as quickly as possible. The following are priority levels for snow and ice-removal:

o Priority 1: Highest traffic-volume roadways are cleared first, including interstates and other major routes. These roads receive continuous treatment throughout a storm.

o Priority 2: Lower-volume, lettered or numbered routes are opened to two-way traffic and treated with salt at critical areas such as intersections, hills and curves.

After the storm during regular work hours, workers clean up accumulation on shoulders, bridge edges and interchanges.

Annually MoDOT spends approximately $30 million on snow and ice removal. Last year, approximately 3,000 employees spent more than 541,000 hours using the 1,800 snow-removal vehicles, which added up to $43 million on snow and ice prevention and removal. Department facilities are stocked with snow-removal materials by Nov 1.

"Remember to give snowplows plenty of room to work, don't tailgate and try not to pass," Carney said. "We want everyone to get home safely. Always buckle up, and remember, when driving in Ice and Snow, Take It Slow."

For information on road conditions across the state, safe traveling tips and a diagram on driveway clearing techniques, visit www.modot.org or call 888-ASK MODOT. Recorded road-condition information is available at (800) 222-6400.

Winter Driving Safety Tips

Slow down for wet, snowy, icy conditions.

Avoid quick braking or acceleration.

Find out about driving conditions before you go.

Every time you travel - Buckle Up.

Turn signals, brake lights and windows need to be clear of snow.

You should never use cruise control in winter weather conditions.