Seeing a snow plow clearing the roads when obligations must be met is true relief. Commercial property owners and managers know just how important snow removal can be for business. Snowplows ensure that residents and clients can enter and exit safely to travel to their destinations, no matter the amount of snow or ice coming down in the meantime. Snowplow drivers perform a difficult and dangerous job. There are some tips and tricks for sharing the road with snowplows that will make driving in snowy weather safer for everyone.
Drivers must be sure that the car is in prime condition for the winter weather months. Drivers should also always be in the right condition to drive when using the roadways and especially so in winter weather. Limited visibility and poor road conditions require sharp focus.
In the months leading up to winter, cars should be scheduled for routine snow maintenance. Tires should be checked for air, alignment, and tread. Early fall is a good time of year to schedule an oil change and a tune-up. Being stranded or stalled is not ideal in the best conditions and can be deadly in the worst.
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Driving while texting is already illegal in many cities and states. It is illegal in so many areas because it has proven to be so deadly. Shifting attention from the road to texting at any time is a poor, and often illegal, choice but during winter weather it can be even deadlier. Drivers should never, ever text while driving and definitely never in inclement conditions.
Cellphones, music volume, conversation, and any passenger-generated noise or distractions should be kept to a minimum. The primary focus should be getting from point A to point B safely. Travel should be kept to a minimum if snowplows have been readily deployed en masse. If snow is more commonplace in the driving region, focused and careful driving should still be enacted.
If drivers do become stranded or stalled, carrying a winter emergency kit will help keep them safe. A winter emergency kit will not only help drivers but can also aid snowplow drivers in avoiding stalled or stranded vehicles.
• Flares. Flares can help other drivers, including snowplows, see vehicles that need help.
• Picnic. Shelf-stable food, water, and blankets will help passengers stay hydrated, nourished, and warm.
• Power bank. Keeping a power bank in the car can help drivers maintain communication while waiting for help if cellphone batteries run low.
• Engine off. Snow could back up deadly and noxious fumes into the car if the engine is running.
Snowplows have the same obligation that normal drivers do in keeping their plows maintained and road-ready for winter conditions. Routine maintenance before the plowing services are truly needed is a smart choice for any fleet or commercial property-owned vehicle. That doesn’t mean that snowplows don’t malfunction. Since snowplows are very heavy, they also require more time and distance to properly brake. Drivers should keep several feet away from a snowplow when driving to allow for any issues.
Snowplow drivers work in the worst conditions. Visibility is at an all-time low. Salt, ice, and snow are constantly being blown up onto the area in which they view the road. Drivers should always bear in mind that snowplow drivers have likely been working long shifts in terrible conditions when sharing the road with them.
When sharing the road with snowplows, drivers should exercise both caution and gratitude. The best way to stay safe is to pay attention, drive carefully, buckle up and slow down. We know how important snow removal is for commercial properties. Contact Monarch Landscape for an estimate on snow maintenance today.
