TRAVERSE CITY — A new state law makes it illegal for motorists to drive too close to government-operated snowplows.
As winter fast approaches, the Grand Traverse County Road Commission is urging drivers to obey the new law – both for their own safety and the safety of snowplow operators.
The law requires:
• Motorists must stay at least 200 feet behind a snowplow.
• When approaching an intersection, drivers must stop at least 20 feet from a snowplow which is stopped at, or already in, an intersection.
• Violators are subject to a civil infraction, which may result in fines or points added to a person’s driving record.
The law applies to snowplows that are operating on behalf of the state, a county road commission or a municipality, such as Traverse City, including those trucks engaged in salting and sanding.
“Our trucks need a buffer zone so they can back up if necessary or re-plow certain areas,” said Dan Watkins, Grand Traverse County director of the road commission.
“Trying to drive around a plow truck is not a good idea — and not just because of the blind spot,” Watkins added. “There’s a lot going on in the cab of those trucks beyond just driving. They’re also operating the plow itself, the wing, the underbody equipment and so on.”
During major snowfalls, road commission drivers typically work 12-hour shifts, driving hundreds of miles, sometimes in white-out conditions.
“It’s like driving down to Detroit and back in white-knuckle weather,” Watkins added. “When we’ve had collisions in the past, it’s usually been due to people speeding and being impatient.
“We’ve also had some cases when rude people lose their patience and throw pop bottles or shovels at our trucks,” he added. “That only adds to our drivers’ stress. Let’s stay civil out there.”
Moreover, keeping the roads clear during snow and ice storms is essential to first responders, like police and ambulance drivers, county officials said, noting it can literally be a matter of life and death because every minute counts in a health emergency.
The bottom line for drivers, they said: Be patient and keep a safe distance away from working snowplows.