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The North Dakota Department of Transportation
advises drivers to be cautious of weather conditions throughout
the state. Conditions are causing poor visibility due to light
and fluffy snow accumulation, which makes for dangerous driving
conditions. Travelers need to watch for snowplows on roadways
throughout North Dakota, and are urged to drive with caution and
be aware of road conditions by dialing "511" to listen
to the most up-to-date weather information before driving.
In order to ensure safety in these conditions,
travelers should watch for snowplows, trucks and other large vehicles
on the roadways because they create "snow fog," which
causes poor visibility to the rear and blind spots when meeting
or passing these vehicles. It is also important to remember –
Don’t Crowd the Plow - it could save your life. So far,
during the 2006 - 2007 winter season eight snowplow accidents;
five were rear-ended and three were side-swiped by another vehicle.
One of the side-swipe incidents occurred this morning in the Dickinson
area, and a a snowplow was forced off the road in the Valley City
area.
Safety tips for sharing the roads with
snow plows include:
• Be extremely cautious
when passing a snow plow. They can be moved sideways by drifts
and hard snow pack.
• Never
drive through “white-outs” caused by crosswinds
or plowing light snow. Snow plows pull over and stop frequently
to allow traffic to pass. Be patient and wait until you can see.
• Stay
well back. Sometimes snow plows have to stop and back up
and they often throw sanding material.
• Know
where the plow is on multi-lane roadways. The plow could
be in either lane or on the shoulder.
•
Watch for plow trucks on interstate ramps and “authorized
vehicle only”
cross-overs.
• Don’t
assume that you’ll have good traction because the
road looks sanded. The sand can sink into the snow pack, leaving
a slick surface.
• Slow
down and drive according to the conditions. Most winter
crashes are caused by driving too fast for conditions.
• Be
alert to changing road conditions. A slight drop in temperature
can cause roads to become slick gradually and cause problems for
unwary drivers.
• NEVER
use cruise control if there is any potential for slippery
road surfaces.
Travelers are urged to - Know before you
go - check road conditions by dialing ‘511’ or visit
the website www.511.nd.gov for
the most up-to-date information available.
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