The roads have been cleared from last weekend’s big snowstorm, but another one is on its way.
Tuesday, February 9th, 2010
County Engineer, Joe Kovach reminds motorists, Please...Don’t Crowd the Plow.
As the men and women of the Huron County Highway Department work with Township and Village snow plow crews to clear the almost eight hundred miles of Huron County’s rural roadways this winter, residents are reminded snow removal crews have seen a number of crashes involving motorists running into snowplow trucks.
Often these snow bound accidents are the result of motorists hitting snow removal vehicles from behind as passenger car operators learn how quickly a 25 ton snow plow can stop when aided by ten massive snow tires.
Across the state this winter, there have been 49 crashes involving Ohio snowplows. Unfortunately, this number of crashes includes four fatalities.
Motorists are urged to give snowplows plenty of room to work.
Kovach reminds motorists, “Our big orange snow plows are often required to make sudden stops due to road conditions”. Usually these big trucks are traveling at a much slower speed as they work to clear the county’s highways. It is not unusual for these tandem axle behemoths to need to make split second maneuvers when approaching approach bridges and overpasses.
The County Engineer also noted, “When the snow fleet is out spreading anti-icing salt, it is especially important for motorists to stay back 50 to 100 feet behind the plow trucks”. Salt coming from the truck may distract some drivers following too closely, while chunks of the road salt may be discharged with the possibility of causing vehicle damage for those to close for safe travel.
In the end, Ohioans know spring is just around the corner. If, while everyone dreams of warmer weather, motorists can all just have a little patience, behind the wheel; If drivers can share the road with those doing their best to clear the way for Huron County’s school busses, safety forces, business traffic and area motorists, citizens will be able to get through this winter safely.
Welcome to winter in Northern Ohio. Please drive carefully.
