Required annual vehicle safety inspections go a long way toward keeping Pennsylvania's motorists and roadways safe, but PennDOT reminds drivers not to ignore the need for routine maintenance between inspections.
"We can all help make our roadways safer by keeping our vehicles in top running condition between inspections," said Kurt J. Myers, PennDOT's deputy secretary for safety administration.
"Performing routine maintenance checks is a prudent step all drivers can take to keep their vehicles safe," he said.
Routine maintenance helps to prevent malfunctions that could cause a dangerous or deadly situation.
Worn or defective tires, bad fan or power steering belts, low fluid levels, a weak old battery or any number of other maintenance issues could potentially cause a loss of control or leave a motorist stranded.
Performed regularly, routine maintenance helps to prevent mishaps associated with mechanical failure. Little things like checking tire pressure routinely when you get gas, checking a vehicle's oil level when fueling up or having a mechanic check out a peculiar sound from either under the hood or outside can help save money and prevent frustration down the road.
Vehicle owners can visit the "Maintaining Your Vehicle Beyond Inspections" section under the Motor Vehicle Information Center on PennDOT's Drive and Vehicle Services Web site - www.dmv.state.pa.us - for more information on maintaining vehicles between inspections.
Download a free maintenance checklist at the site and keep it as a reminder.
Troubleshooting your vehicle using a checklist should not be considered a replacement for scheduled maintenance for your vehicles.
Drivers should consult their owner's manual for the manufacturer's regular schedule of vehicle maintenance for their particular make and model of vehicle.
Road Rant (Check Out the Video)
Grace Stewart of Aston wonders why Mt. Alverno Road south of Howarth Road in Middletown hasn't been line-painted yet since it was repaved several months ago. She says this back road is very dark at night and white lines on the shoulder - so called fog lines - would help driving.
She's right. The Road Watcher took a trip out there Friday and definitely thinks it also needs a yellow
double center line for no passing just like the rest of the road. This township road also has a guard rail with steel cable and yellow metal posts bordering a very steep wooded embankment - even more of a reason to have fog lines.
Transportation Funding
The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission says transportation funding in Pennsylvania is in jeopardy and so are millions of dollars of road, bridge and mass transit projects in southeastern Pennsylvania.
Act 44 legislation, a key component of transportation funding in the state, had called for the tolling of I-80 and additional revenue from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. But because the Federal Highway Administration rejected the tolling of the interstate highway, Act 44 cannot be fully funded, according to DVRPC.
The DVRPC, the metropolitan planning organization for Greater Philadelphia, is calling on legislators to act now to restore this lost funding and created a dedicated funding source for the state's roads, bridges and mass transit.
"Pennsylvania is at a crossroads - in one direction we have potholes, bridges closed to traffic and crumbling transit infrastructure," said Barry Seymour, DVRPC executive director. "In the other, we have a modern transportation system that can pave the way to a vibrant future.
"Transportation is vital to the success of the region," he said. "A well-maintained and expanded system can have positive impacts on economic competitiveness, environmental quality, livability and sustainability. It is now up to the legislators to take action on this critical issue."
Without full funding of Act 44, PennDOT's District 6, which includes Delaware County, anticipates a reduction of $57 million annually for road and bridge projects in southeastern Pennsylvania beginning in Fiscal Year 2011.
SEPTA's capital funding will be reduced by $110 million per year, equivalent to a 25 percent cut in the capital budget. The impact of limited funding reaches well beyond a particular funding level per year and has necessitated that PennDOT and SEPTA defer hundreds of millions of dollars worth of road reconstruction, bridge and transit projects in the DVRPC region.
"There are many alternatives to raising the funds that tolling I-80 would have brought," Seymour said. "For example, raising the gas tax by a nickel per gallon costs the average driver just two dollars per month and raises over $300 million per year statewide. Most people will accept two dollars per month. What is not acceptable for the future of Pennsylvania is to do nothing."
Pennsylvania still has about 5,000 structurally deficient bridges - the highest number of any state - and about 6,000 miles of roads that are in need of repair, according to DVRPC.
Beatty Road Closing
Nether Providence - Beatty Road will be closed and detoured between Baltimore Pike and Sproul Road (Route 320) for bridge rehabilitation starting Monday, PennDOT said.
The bridge is expected to reopen July 30.
During construction, Beatty Road through traffic will be detoured over Baltimore Pike and Route 320. Local access will be maintained up to the construction zone.
Motorists are advised to allow extra time when traveling through the area.
Traffic Delays
Ridley Township - Fairview Road closed, Aqua utility installation between Sherman Avenue and Emlen Street 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 24-hour detour through July 9.
Newtown - West Chester Pike (Route 3), Aqua installation with lane restrictions at St. Albans Avenue 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 27.
Also, Newtown Street Road between Chapel Road and Winding Way, Aqua work 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through May 27.
Radnor - Goshen Road, road work costing $1.3 million, closed/detoured 24 hours daily between Darby-Paoli Road and Hunt Road for roadway reconstruction and realignment to remove a sharp curve through Aug. 21. Work began March 1. Goshen Road will be detoured over Darby-Paoli Road, Bryn Mawr Avenue, Route 3, Route 252 and Goshen Road.
Concord - Baltimore Pike, bridge replacement with lane restrictions on bridge over Chester Creek 9 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays through June 2011. Work began September 2009.
Baltimore Pike (U.S. Route 1) - Middletown and Chester Heights, bridge replacement with lane restrictions between Darlington and Station roads, 24-hour restrictions through June 2011. Work began Oct. 12.
Road Watch appears Sundays. Only messages and mail with phone numbers will be considered. E-mail: jroman@delcotimes.com.