Wisconsin Honors Snowplow Driver Appreciation Day; Minnesota Releases Safety Video

While state transportation departments around the nation are preparing for winter weather, Gov. Scott Walker has proclaimed Monday, Nov. 21, as Snowplow Driver Appreciation Day in Wisconsin to acknowledge the critical role of snowplow drivers in keeping the state’s roadways functioning even during the coldest, snowiest months of the year.Walker’s proclamation notes that before, during, and after winter storms, Wisconsin’s snowplow drivers apply years of knowledge and skill in a determined effort to keep roadways safe for all motorists and maintain the mobility of commerce to support the state’s economy.

The proclamation encourages motorists to exercise caution whenever they encounter snowplows and to limit travel during storms to allow snowplow drivers to complete their jobs safely and efficiently.

“Removing snow and ice from more than 100,000 miles of roads and streets in Wisconsin is a tremendous challenge,” Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb said in a statement. “Snowplow drivers often work extraordinarily long hours during the worst imaginable weather conditions to maintain safe roads and keep commerce flowing. They do their jobs, and we can do our part.”

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is using Snowplow Driver Appreciation Day to remind motorists to call 511 or go online to www.511wi.gov to check road conditions; take it slow when there’s ice or snow; stay at least 200 feet behind a working snowplow; and be careful when passing a working snowplow — a snowplow can create a cloud of snow that could obscure your vision, and the roadway behind the snowplow is in better condition than in front of it.

Minnesota Issues Snowplow Safety Video Urging Drivers to “Stay Back — Stay Alive”

The Minnesota Department of Transportation released a new public service announcement this week that reminds motorists of the hazardous conditions they will face on the roads when snowplows are present.

MnDOT’s 30-second PSA features actual radio chatter from snowplow dispatchers, video of snowplows in action, and photos from vehicle and snowplow collisions. The announcement’s message is “Stay Back — Stay Alive.”

“It’s imperative that motorists understand and fully realize the hazards and potential harm that can come from following snowplows too closely or otherwise failing to drive for winter conditions,” Minnesota Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel said in a statement “Snowplows weigh up to 17 times more than a typical car or SUV, and in a vehicle versus snowplow crash, the snowplow is going to win.”

The PSA is available at bit.ly/MnDOTsnowplow.