While logically, it should go without saying, the province has felt the need to issue a press release: "Stay Back and Stay Safe."
"When winter hits, Saskatchewan's snow plow operators hit the highways to remove snow and treat ice on the province's 26,000 km network. Motorists are reminded to stay back and stay safe, giving the snow plow room to work as highways are cleared using the most effective methods for varying weather conditions," the release states.
"Clearing snow and ice in a windy province like Saskatchewan is a challenge, but our staff know what to do to make conditions better, and how avoid to making conditions worse," Highways and Infrastructure Minister Jim Reiter says.
Not only should the release pertain to snow plows but rather winter driving in general. It's winter. Sadly there have been lives lost due to poor road conditions already and we haven't even hit January. As drivers, we need to slow down and drive accordingly.
In addition to blowing snow, drifting, icing and poor visibility, Reiter reminds drivers applying salt or de-icing chemical when there is strong ground drift or heavy snow fall WILL cause snow to stick and become twice or three times thicker than the condition that already exists, forming ice and heavy ruts.
There are 300 plow trucks working in 85 maintenance sections throughout the province, on the road before, during and after storms. Highways are inspected frequently to determine if snow plowing or salt/sand application is needed, and to report up-to-date highway conditions to the Highway Hotline. "Night Riders" travel routes up to 500 km long throughout the night to report and treat conditions on the most heavily travelled highways.
"I'd like to ask motorists to remember that snow plows can create a mini blizzard in their wake, sometimes obscuring the plow from sight, despite the checkerboard truck boxes and flashing lights," adds Reiter. "If you come upon a sudden whiteout, it's probably a plow working up ahead, so slow down, stay back and stay safe. The plows pull over every 10 kilometers or so to allow vehicles to pass."
Three needless collisions with snow plow trucks were recorded last winter, bringing the total to 53 collisions since ministry officials began closely tracking them in 1998.
For everyone's sake - please slow down and save a life.
