Buterbaugh urged motorists to take precaution when driving in excessive heat

With temperatures expected to be near the 100-degree mark and extreme heat advisories in at least 15 states, officials are warning drivers to take precautions before heading out.
"Take water with you on your trip," said Jeff Cranson of the Michigan Department of Transportation, warning drivers to make preparations in case of an emergency that could force them to walk a significant distance in the extreme heat if their car breaks down.
Geoff Sundstrom of the Delaware Department of Transportation recommended that drivers have their car batteries tested if they are more than three years old.
"Heat is the number one killer of batteries, not the cold," Sundstrom said.
Meanwhile, the sweltering temperatures from Wisconsin to the Atlantic seaboard have forced state and local road crews into action repairing streets and roadways buckling under the intense heat. Pavement expands in the heat, and cannot contract if it does not cool down enough overnight.


"Typically they see most of our road failures on secondary roads versus highways," said Man Tridgell of the Los angeles Department of Transportation. Water drainage is better on highways than side-streets, & highways are made to handle a substantially higher volume of traffic & are less susceptible to extreme temperatures, according to Tridgell.
Mark Giessinger of the Missouri Department of Transportation recommended that drivers who encounter buckled roads slow down & use caution before calling the appropriate DOT authorities in their state.
"Buckling is risky for motorcyclists," said Greg Bilyeu of Virginia's DOT. "VDOT is working with the state materials engineer & the Virginia Transportation Research Council to analyze core samples & check pavement integrity to choose what can lead to buckling. \. These tests may help identify areas that are more susceptible to buckling in the future."
Texas has only seen significant buckle on a major road, on the west side of Detroit, according to Cranson.