Whether or not snowplows go autonomous in the future, right now, behind every wheel of every big truck clearing the way in the province, there’s a person driving. And they’re not exactly following a schedule, since their job is determined by the whims of nature. I have decided, then, to use this space to send praise in the direction of everyone who drives a snowplow in Saskatchewan.
This was inspired by a Christmas journey to my sister’s house on Christmas day. This year happened to be a Christmas which landed squarely on a morning of snow and wind. Still, the roads were largely fine, apart from one or two rough patches, and there was a very good reason for that. Snowplows, everywhere. At least four coming in the opposite direction as we drove down the Yellowhead to Wynyard. Probably more out that we didn’t see, for we were one little red car in the vast expanses of Saskatchewan. On Christmas morning, when tradition dictates that everyone wants the day off, here were a bunch of people driving down the highways so I could drive my petite Hyundai without getting stuck in a drift or hitting the ditch.
I don’t pretend that it’s any sort of altruism that drives the plow, it’s a job, and one that needs to be done. But I do think that it’s a case where the people doing the job need some recognition entirely because the province’s plows do a really good job clearing the roads. When it’s actually snowing, they’re making it so that the roads are at least drivable. It’s a losing battle, make no mistake, and we encountered a few rough spots on our way, but I would not have been able to make it if they weren’t tackling the problem pretty aggressively.
The more impressive part of the day was after Christmas celebrations, when we continued on to my mother’s house in Watson. The roads were completely clear, there was nary a flake to be found. It was a comprehensive clearing of snow, and one that has been pretty consistent every time I’ve had to go out after a snowy day – once the skies clear, the plows take care of the snow soon after.
The plowing industry could change in the future, as more autonomous technology gets integrated into automobiles. I don’t have as much confidence in this tech as some of my colleagues, especially in snow, mostly because I have yet to use a traction control system that isn’t completely baffled by snow. But let’s assume that they eventually figure out how snow works. The plows could just drive themselves, and there would no longer be a need for the driver.
But that’s the future, and right now I feel as though we should appreciate the drivers of the many plows that dot the province’s roadways. Plenty of people, including myself, would have had a rotten holiday season without them going down the road getting rid of all that nasty snow, and I think a job well done is worthy of a bit of recognition, even if it’s just right here.
