Clearfield, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) is inviting high school students in the Central Pennsylvania region to participate in the annual Paint the Plow program. The program challenges youth to paint an original mural on a PennDOT snowplow blade, while incorporating a designated statewide safety theme, to promote winter driving safety and foster appreciation for school art programs and student creativity. 

The designated 2024 theme, “Use your reason when it’s freezin’”, was chosen to remind motorists to use caution when driving in the winter months, and to practice safe behavior while driving, including avoiding distractions, impairment, and aggressive driving, and to always wear a seat belt.

The Paint the Plow program first started in Pennsylvania in 2015 and has expanded to most counties across the state. In the District 2 region, high school students from nine counties are invited to participate. 

Students in public and private high schools are welcome to participate and must have their school officials complete and return an application to the regional PennDOT coordinator in District 2, Steve Harmic, at sharmic@pa.gov or 70 PennDOT Drive, Clearfield PA, 16830.

Plow delivery and pick-up dates vary by county.

Additional information on the program, including the guidelines for participation and photos of past plows, can be found online at www.penndot.pa.gov/PaintthePlow or obtained from the local contact.

Motorists are encouraged to “Know Before They Go” by checking conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information, and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Subscribe to PennDOT news in Cameron, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Elk, Juniata, McKean, Mifflin, and Potter counties at www.penndot.gov/District2.