Winter is Coming! Thank a Snow Plow Driver Today

Remember the Feb.2, 2011 blizzard? Whether you called it Snowmaggedon or Snowtorious Big or something much more clever, chances are you never would have made it out of your neighborhood without the endurance of snowplow drivers.

So on Nov. 21, let's give a rousing "Way to go!" and a hearty "Thank you!" to our snow plow drivers for last season and the one still looming on Snowplow Driver Appreciation Day.

From the DOT:

To acknowledge the critical role of snowplow drivers in keeping the state’s roadways functioning even during the coldest, snowiest months of the year, Governor Scott Walker has proclaimed Monday, November 21, as Snowplow Driver Appreciation Day in Wisconsin.

Governor 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 also 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 performed primarily by county and municipal highway departments," said Wisconsin Department of Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb. "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 offers these safety tips for driving during winter weather:

• Before venturing out, call 511 or go online to www.511wi.gov to check road conditions.

• If there’s ice and snow, take it slow. The posted speed limits are based on dry pavement. Those speed limits may be hazardous when roads are slick. Most traffic crashes in winter are caused by driving too fast for conditions.

• State law requires that you stay at least 200 feet behind a working snowplow. When you’re following a snowplow, make sure that you can see the driver’s mirrors to ensure the driver is able to see you. You never know when a snowplow driver may have to back up. 

• If you have to pass a working snowplow, be careful. The snowplow can create a cloud of snow that could obscure your vision. Also, remember that the roadway behind the snowplow is in better condition than in front of it.

And always buckle up and drive sober to help reduce the number of preventable traffic deaths to "Zero in Wisconsin."