As winter nears, ODOT revs into gear
We’ve been spoiled with beautiful fall weather lately, and for most of us, the thought of travel-altering snow and ice still seems far away. Luckily for us, the folks at the Ohio Department of Transportation are preparing now for what we may eventually face.
Inspections are underway. At ODOT’s District 10 headquarters in Marietta, mechanics and drivers checked trucks and plows this week. Statewide, ODOT is conducting safety checks, hiring additional mechanics and drivers, replenishing salt stores and getting ahead of the game.
Route refresher training helps drivers understand where they’ll be working. But, as District 10 Highway Technician Eric Gandee pointed out, the depth of experience at ODOT means “This is familiar activity to us.”
While ODOT employees do their part to make sure they are as prepared and safe as possible this winter, the rest of us bear a little responsibility, too.
Those plows and trucks are on the road to serve other drivers, and that puts them at risk. Rather than crowd them, we should stay out of their way.
“Move over, slow down,” Gandee said. “And stay home if you don’t have to be on the road.”
Last winter, 22 plow trucks were struck statewide.
“When these crashes occur, it takes important snow-fighting equipment off the road, forcing other plows in the area to extend their routes. It is very important that drivers give crews plenty of room to work,” ODOT said earlier this month.
Rather than giving in to impatience and overconfidence in one’s own vehicle, instead give plow trucks a wide berth.
“We’re traveling slower than most traffic,” said District 10 spokeswoman Ashley Rittenhouse.
Traveling slower, and working harder. While ODOT gets ready to pre-treat, de-ice, cinder and plow our roads, the least we can do is be determined to give them the space to do so safely.