Ohio Drivers Are Crashing Into Snowplows Each 2 Days

The 12 months 2024 is simply 19 days outdated at this level, and the Ohio Division of Transportation has already reported 9 snow plow vans have been hit by passing automobiles. That’s greater than twice the variety of driver-on-plow-truck impacts in comparison with the identical interval in 2023.

The state of Ohio employs 1,700 vans to clear the Buckeye’s 262,492 miles of roadway. There hasn’t actually been all that a lot snow in Ohio up to now this 12 months, however these massive behemoths are additionally used to unfold salt, WBNS experiences:

“Our plow vans are very giant automobiles, they’ve quite a lot of shifting elements. Our drivers are monitoring the scenario with the snow in entrance of them they’re dropping salt behind them so they’ve quite a lot of shifting elements. We simply need to remind drivers to provide us as a lot room as attainable so they can clear the roads,” mentioned Hannah Salem with ODOT District 6.

Throughout all of 2023, there have been a complete of 56 crashes involving drivers hitting ODOT crews, together with every part from plow vans to highway development crews. That was down considerably from 2022’s 153 incidents. The plow vans are massive and shiny and the lights are flashing, it’s not as if they’re hiding. There’s no purpose to get labored up and attempt to rush passing a plow truck. Wherever you’re going can wait so that you can get there safely, so I (and ODOT) encourage you to attend for a protected and comfy place to move the place you may give the plow truck a large berth.

“It’s irritating as a driver as a result of my eyes are on my materials, my blade, I’m attempting to look at as I’m throwing my snow after which to look over and I’ve acquired a automobile in my blind spot that’s passing me actually shut at hand, that’s not a very good scenario for me or that driver as a result of the very last thing I need to see is somebody harm because of attempting to get round me whereas I’m clearing the roads,” provided Ohio plow truck driver Matt McGuire. “The extra room you may give us, the happier we shall be and the clearer we are able to get the roads in much less time.”