Since Labor Day weekend marks the official end of summer, winter weather is right around the corner and Missouri Department of Transportation crews are gearing up to become “Winter Weather Warriors”.
Always park off of the road and clear away your vehicle from snowplows as they cannot detect vehicles parked in the road.
Safety First
Westerville’s snowplow operators take great pride in keeping its 130 miles of streets clear during winter storms, and to ensure their safety while plowing, the City has implemented several do’s and don’ts.
Do Dress for Safety- When operating a vehicle, wear warm clothing and slip resistant footwear for your own safety. Do Keep Snow Away From Buildings- Never pile snow near mailboxes, fire hydrants, electrical boxes or dumpsters. Keep Eyes and Minds Clear- Ensure operators are well rested before operating safely. When visiting properties and noting obstructions prior to a snow event this allows an operator to familiarize himself/herself with road and parking lot layout as well as possible routes for clearing snow off streets as well as potential obstructions avoided in advance.
Stay off the Road
During heavy snow events, public advice to stay off of roads may vary, yet people still need groceries, go to work and visit family.
WCRC drivers work tirelessly to keep roads accessible during periods of inclement weather. Major arterials will be salted and plowed first (if two inches or more of snow accumulates). Once these priority streets have been treated, crews will move onto secondary streets such as neighborhood roads and subdivision roads.
Keep in mind that snowplow drivers have limited visibility, and cannot see directly behind their truck. Remain several car lengths behind and only pass a snowplow if you can clearly see that it is safe to do so. Snowplows can kick up clouds of snow which reduce visibility in adjacent lanes – this can be hazardous for all involved; never drive into such clouds as this could impair visibility for everyone and lead to vehicle control issues.
Clear Your Vehicle
Winter can be a wonderful season filled with cozy fireside moments with loved ones and snow-fun for children alike. Unfortunately, for many adults snowfall brings fear because it represents another front in their fight against slippery roads and driveways. When our snow plows come into your neighborhood be sure to clear off your vehicle thoroughly including its windshield, roof, headlights etc. Driving with snow on it poses both blind spots and safety risks – we highly advise against leaving our vehicles exposed until our plows arrive to remove it all safely!
Be Patient
Winter snowfall can be magical; an opportunity to come together around a cozy fireplace or hit the slopes. However, for others it means hard work and inconvenience – for them the snow plowing warriors live their lives from behind their truck, clearing other people’s driveways with ease – such as retired physical-education teacher Ed Savage or paver Bernadette Patterson and general contractor Tom Logue among many more.