Fast facts:
- Piling snow at the ends of driveways along highway shoulders and pushing snow across roads can create hazardous conditions.
- Piling or depositing snow that obstructs vision is a violation of Michigan’s Vehicle Code.
- Keeping sidewalks clear is important to help people walk safely and catch the bus.
Although it’s been a light winter so far, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is reminding residents living along state trunklines to be careful as they plow snow.
Two main concerns are when residents and businesses pile snow at the ends of driveways along the highway shoulder, and when snow is pushed across the road, leaving snow or slush on the road surface.
The Michigan Vehicle Code prohibits “the obstruction of safety vision by removal or deposit of snow, ice, or slush.” This includes the end of driveways, where banked snow can reduce visibility for vehicles trying to enter the roadway.
“When the snowbanks get higher than your average car, it makes it very difficult for motorists to see other vehicles,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle “Our crews work to keep the shoulders clear for motorist safety and we need residents and business owners to do the same.”
Leaving a trail of snow on the pavement while plowing across the road also can cause problems. The snow can become packed and create ridges on the road, or, as temperatures change, the area can become icy.
“Careless plowing creates an added hazard to unsuspecting motorists and to road maintenance personnel,” Steudle said.
It also is important to remember that local ordinances may require residents and businesses to keep sidewalks clear of snow. This is important for pedestrians and those waiting for the bus.
“Winter can be a difficult time to get around for those on foot, so please take the extra effort to clear your sidewalks and help everyone stay mobile and safe,” Steudle said.
Source: News release from Michigan Department of Transportation
…..and as a friendly reminder back to MDOT, and various road commissions. Please reciprocate the courtesy whenever possible, and please don’t plow road snow in to our driveways so we don’t have to clear a ^%$#@*! glaciers from the end or our driveway…..just a little constructive suggestion.
I’m getting way too old for this nonsense…. It gets really frustrating when folks like me go to great lengths to comply with such requests to keep our snow from being plowed out in to roads and then come out an hour or so later and it looks like the Adirondack Mountain range at the end of the drive, and then I have to debate, do I remove it altogether or just build a tunnel through it. There are days it looks like the snow plows deposit the back drop for a friggen Riccola coughdrop commercial in my driveway for Pete’s sake.
Not only is it a pain in the butt to clear so I actually can get out of my driveway, but I get hate mail from the local ski resorts for all the man made competition and the lost revenue from the kids using the mounds at the end of the driveway tubing and tobogganing.
….so help a fella out MDOT…..pretty please
Oh, no….MUCH better to plough your driveway and then have the MDOT drivers snow you back in again when they go down the road. If MDOT and the County Road Commission showed some respect, maybe homeowners would too!