'Don't crowd the plow' and other safe driving tips

  • Published
  • By Eric T. Hoehn
  • 88th Air Base Wing Safety
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio. --  Recent snow storms underscore the importance of safe driving practices, which need to be intensified during the winter. As roads become treacherous with snow and ice, maintenance crews on and off base work to keep them clear.

Drivers need to be alert for snowplows and other road-clearing equipment and give them plenty of space. The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) uses rear snowplow lights to help make the vehicles more visible.

ODOT wants to remind motorist to "Don't crowd the plow" and offers these safety precautions:

› Keep your distance: Give the snowplows room to work.

› Beware of the snow cloud: If you pass a snowplow, take extreme caution. The plow often creates a cloud of snow and ice that can be hard to see through.

› See and be seen: Because the equipment is so large, a snowplow operator's field of vision is restricted. You may see the plow, but its operator won't always see you.   Keep your distance and watch for sudden stops.

All drivers must be on the lookout for snowplows and any other potential hazards. By keeping these precautions in mind, the number of rear end collisions can be reduced, making everyone's winter weather driving and the snowplow operators' shifts safer.

For more information, visit the Ohio Department of Public Safety's website at www.dot.state.oh.us  .