Proclamation notes snowplow drivers’ vital role in keeping roadways safe and open for winter travel

For the City-Times

Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed Thursday, November 20, 2014 as Snowplow Driver Appreciation Day in Wisconsin.

The governor’s proclamation (www.dot.wisconsin.gov/news/docs/2014snoplowapprec.pdf) highlights the important role snowplow operators play in keeping people and commerce moving throughout Wisconsin during the winter season. The proclamation also asks motorists to be cautious when they encounter snowplows and to limit driving during severe storms to avoid becoming stranded which impedes snow removal efforts.

“When Wisconsin’s weather is at its worst, our snowplow operators are at their best, often working long hours in challenging conditions to keep roadways open for commuters and commerce,” said Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) Secretary Mark Gottlieb. “Our department has a long-standing and valued partnership with county and municipal highway departments to keep our state highway system free of snow and ice.”

To enhance public safety and assist plow operators, WisDOT offers the following winter driving tips:

• Before traveling, call 511 or go online to Wisconsin 511 (www.511wi.gov) to check road conditions.
• If there’s ice and snow, take it slow. Posted speed limits apply when travel conditions are ideal, and such speeds may be hazardous when roads are slick or visibility is reduced. Most traffic crashes in winter are caused by drivers going too fast for conditions.
• When travel conditions become especially hazardous, postpone or cancel your trip.
• Stay at least 200 feet behind a working snowplow. Make sure that you can see the plow’s mirrors to ensure the driver is able to see you.
• If you must pass, be careful. Snowplows often create a cloud of snow that can obscure vision. Remember that road conditions in front of the plow will likely be worse.

As always – buckle up, pay attention to traffic and road conditions, slow down and drive sober to help reduce the number of preventable traffic deaths to “Zero in Wisconsin.”