Drive to arrive: Safe driving tips offered

WAKEFIELD — Snow and ice mean maintenance crews will be on the road with snowplows, snow blowers and sanding trucks. Darren Pionk from the Gogebic County Road Commission, Sheriff Pete Matonich from the Gogebic County Sheriff’s Department and Michigan State Police Community Service Trooper Jerry Mazurek, have a few safe-driving tips when traveling near winter maintenance equipment.

A snow plow driver’s visibility may be limited due to blowing snow around the truck. While traveling 40 miles-per-hour in icy conditions, law enforcement cautions drivers should be at least a dozen car lengths behind the vehicle in front of them.

On some highways, two or more snow plows may be staggered across multiple lanes with the plow in front pushing snow towards the trailing plows. While this is an effective way to quickly clear wide areas said Mazurek, law enforcement wants to urge drivers to stay behind these plowing operations and not to try passing. In what should be obvious, but is not, Mazurek reminded the Globe the road surface ahead of the plow has not been plowed yet; so drivers should slow down and be patient. The plows will eventually pull over and let you pass safely.

Never pass a snowplow on the right, it’s extremely dangerous. If involved in an accident with a plow truck, drivers can be cited for careless driving.

Law Enforcement urges drivers to remember to give themselves extra time, slow down, buckle up and drive to arrive.