It’s that time of the year where a lot of Green River’s residents think about warmer climates and avoid any mention of the four-letter word referring to cold, fluffy white stuff.
While it goes without saying that the county’s motorists should exercise caution while driving on the ice and snow covered roads, we think it’s equally important for everyone to spare a thought for the people responsible for maintaining clear roads when the snow starts to fall.
Plow drivers can have it rough. The Wyoming Department of Transportation maintains Interstate 80’s roads on a 24-hour basis, classifying it, I-90 and I-25 as high volume traffic areas in Wyoming.
With the amount of tractor-trailer traffic alone, that’s understandable. With the higher speeds, the potential for disastrous crashes increases on icy roads, which makes that kind of maintenance necessary.
During this time of year, WYDOT’s information signs often advise drivers to give snowplows the room they need to do their job.
Unfortunately, collisions with plows happen all too frequently, as collisions have been reported in November and December. A collision near South Pass resulted in WYDOT urging drivers to be more careful.
“Stay well back from operating snow plows,” Mike Hitshew, a WYDOT maintenance foreman said in a press release. “They are spreading sand, anti-icing and deicing chemicals on the roadway. It’s always a good idea to stay back from snowplows while their operators are doing their jobs. We still get people passing the plow truck at inappropriate times. Sometimes it takes a little time, but we’ll get out of the way when it’s safe. If we’re not moving over for drivers, it’s because it’s not safe.”
We get it. No one wants to be driving in the slush and the muck. People would prefer to get to where they’re going as soon as possible.
Regardless, that’s no excuse for driving in a way that endangers oneself and other people.
Slow down and mind the plows.
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