The best advice: Take it Slow

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WDTN) - Preparing for a forecasted winter storm taking shape with predictions of rain, freezing rain, and snow impacting Friday rush hours – the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is strongly encouraging motorists: Don’t Crowd the Plow.

ODOT’s safety experts continue to see a number of crashes involving motorists striking state snowplows, often hitting the snowplow from behind. Across the state this winter season, there have been 49 crashes with ODOT snowplows, including four fatalities.

Motorists are urged to give snowplows room to work.

Snowplows make sudden stops and travel much slower than posted speeds, especially as they approach bridges and overpasses. Snowplows spread deicing materials, which may distract drivers following too closely.

Snowplows often create clouds as they clear roads and shoulders. These snow clouds can reduce driver’s ability to see.

The best advice: Ice and Snow…Take it Slow.

With Ohio’s winter weather changing mile-by-mile and minute-to-minute, it is even more important to Know Before You Go.

One tool that motorists can use to help prepare for winter driving conditions is www.BuckeyeTraffic.org, ODOT’s premier map-based website for winter road conditions, delays, and impacts to traffic. This website has seen more than 34 million hits this season.

ODOT has also been using Twitter, a widely-popular free social networking website, to send out instant information on winter conditions that may impact traffic along interstates and highways in Akron, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo.