Drivers Asked to Not Pass Plows
Written by Andrew-Rossi on January 11, 2018
Snow plow drivers are asking for help from citizens following a handful of near misses already this winter involving citizens’ vehicles and snow plows.
Cody Beers with the Wyoming Department of Transportation says that snow plow drivers are reporting risky behavior from motorists this winter, including passing other vehicles when it’s not safe, tailgating, and passing snowplows on the left and the right.
Beers points out that WYDOT snow plows are out on the highways every day and many nights, and WYDOT employees are attempting to provide a safe, high quality and efficient transportation system for the citizens of Wyoming.
One of the ways that WYDOT is working to more efficiently clear snow from highways is with the use of a tow plow, which is a trailer mounted, 26-foot plow that is towed behind a 10-wheeled plow truck. This equipment was first used in the Riverton and Lander areas last winter. Beers says that another tow plow will be assigned to the Cody and Powell areas this spring.
Snow storms this winter haven’t yet brought deep snow to northwest Wyoming’s valleys, but Beers says plow drivers have been spreading sand and using salt brine to break up ice. WYDOT officials are asking drivers to please drive on the areas where sand and chemicals are being applied, because this helps break up the snow and ice.