As Utahns take to the roads this winter, local snowplowers have some tips and tricks on how drivers can stay safe while helping the local community.
Bill Peterson, Streets Division Manager for the City of Orem, has worked with the Orem Street Division for nearly 30 years. He shared his top five suggestions for keeping yourself and public service teams safe during wintry weather.
- Don’t park in the street.
While many cities, like Provo, have ordinances on overnight parking during winter months, Orem is among those that do not, Peterson said. When people leave their cars parked in the streets rather than in parking garages, lots or driveways, snowplows have a difficult — and sometimes impossible — time clearing streets from snow.
“(It’s) our biggest issue,” Peterson said. “If people would move their cars onto driveways and out of the way of the plows, that would be really helpful.”
Moving your vehicle doesn’t just help city workers; it also protects your car from being scraped by plows or being scratched from thrown chunks of ice and heavy snow. If streets are narrow or too many cars are parked on both sides, workers are forced to abandon those roads, leaving them unplowed and increasing residents' likelihood of getting stuck or slipping.
- Give snowplows plenty of space.
When driving behind snowplows on the road, Peterson cautions driving too close — even at intersections or stop signs. Snowplows cast salt onto roads from the back of the vehicle and cars that creep too close are at risk of getting damaged, Peterson said.
“Keep your distance from snowplows,” Peterson said. “20 to 30 feet would help out. That way, we’re not throwing salt and hitting cars.”
- Expect slowdowns and delays — and plan accordingly.
“Give yourself some time,” Peterson said. At the very least, cars will need to slow down to safely drive on icy roads or through thick snowfall.
In worst case scenarios, snow-related skids and crashes will cause added traffic. To avoid being in a rush and driving dangerously, plan on leaving early.
- Shovel your spaces.
While city crews are responsible for shoveling sidewalks in public places, homeowners are responsible for any sidewalk spaces in front of their property, Peterson said. Shoveling these areas will help keep pedestrians safe, especially in highly walkable areas like Orem and Provo.
- Dump shoveled snow to the right.
“We get a lot of complaints of people who have shoveled out their driveways,” Peterson said. Homeowners with freshly-shoveled driveways sometimes find that their piles of snow have been pushed back into their driveways after plows come by.
“Throw (snow) to the right. If you throw it to the left, we’re gonna push it right back to where it came from,” Peterson said. If you’re standing in your driveway facing the street, pile snow on the curb to the right to avoid another mess when the plows come by.
For more information about snowplow routes and procedures in Utah County, check the Orem website or the Provo website.