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Unidentified plow operator urges drivers to slow down and give snowplows space
Summary
An unnamed plow operator said passing plows and distracted driving are creating hazards and recounted an incident in which a vehicle struck a plow while trying to pass on the right.
An unidentified plow operator urged drivers to slow down and give snowplows room to work, saying attempts to pass plows have created unsafe conditions on winter roads.
The operator told listeners that plows can only clear snow at a limited speed and that motorists who try to overtake them increase the risk of crashes and reduce the effectiveness of road clearing. “They'll try passing us on the right and the left. You just gotta learn to go slow and be patient,” the operator said.
The speaker said driving faster than a plow does not clear ice or slush and can create more hazardous conditions. “When we're going slower than the posted speed limit trying to clear the roads, and people are wanting to go that speed to get where they're going, it creates a problem. We can only plow snow at a certain speed. It just doesn't get the ice off the road, doesn't get all this snow or slush off the road,” the operator said.
The operator recounted a recent close call: “I had a lady try to pass me on the right, so she lost control of her vehicle and she ran into my plow.” The speaker asked motorists to “give us the space to work, stay behind the back truck,” and said crews are out working to keep people safe and moving.
The operator also criticized distracted driving and misplaced confidence in four-wheel-drive vehicles, saying drivers were in a hurry and relying too much on vehicle systems. “I see too many people nowadays driving distracted. Just they're in a hurry to get where they wanna go... 4 wheel drive means 4 wheel go and it don't mean 4 wheel stop,” the operator said.
Closing the message, the operator reiterated crews’ goal: “We're out here in the middle of the snowstorm, trying to make it safe for them, so they can be home with their loved ones... We're out working, and we're here to keep Utah moving.”
