WEST CENTRAL, Ind. – The Indiana Department of Transportation Crawfordsville District will have a full call-out of 145 yellow salt trucks deployed tonight at midnight to begin plowing and treating our roadways. INDOT reminds motorists to be cautious while traveling during this upcoming winter weather.
The National Weather Service has predicted 2 to 6 inches of snow and possible ice for west central Indiana from late Friday night through early morning Sunday and has a majority of central Indiana under a Winter Storm Watch. The northern portion of our district is currently under a Winter Storm Warning.
INDOT will continue with full crews reporting in at noon on Saturday and continue with 12-hour shifts to plow and treat the interstates, U.S. highways and state routes. Each route takes 2-3 hours to complete with salt assisting in melting between passes.
Low temps and strong winds to follow storm
INDOT plow crews will work to make state highways as clear and dry as quickly as possible. Following the storm, temperatures are predicted to fall along with strong sustained winds. With the predicted freezing temperatures, salt and other melting agents will have to work harder to melt ice and snow from the roadway. As a result, motorists should expect road conditions to be worst during the storm and any blowing or drifting that follows.
It’s always safest BEHIND the plow
- Don’t crowd the plow. The front of the plow extends many feet in front of the truck. It may cross the centerline and shoulders while plowing.
- Don’t assume the plow driver can see you. A plow driver’s field of vision is very limited — you may see them, but they may not be able to see you.
- Don’t tailgate or stop too close behind a plow. Plow trucks are usually releasing salt from the back of the truck. Often, the trucks stop or take evasive action (to avoid a stranded vehicle or animal). Snow plows create a cloud of snow that reduces visibility. Don’t travel too closely — leave four to five car-lengths ahead.
- Use caution to pass. Try not to travel beside a plow for too long — when plowing through a snow drift or packed snow, the impact can move the plow trucks sideways. If you have to pass a plow, do so on the left side — plows typically move snow to the right as lanes are cleared. They also turn and exit the road frequently.
- Snowplows travel slower. Plow trucks travel approximately 30-35 mph when they’re removing snow and ice. Allow plenty of time to stop or slow down when you’re behind one of our yellow trucks.
Driver tips
- Reduce speeds. Remember, “ice and snow, take it slow.” Nobody should be driving interstate speeds in winter weather.
- Plan plenty of time to reach your destination safely and be patient. Don’t put yourself and others in a dangerous situation by being in a rush.
- Keep a safe distance. Make sure your vehicle is following at a safe distance to stop. Do not tailgate, especially around snow plows, and try not to pass.
- Pay attention. Avoid all distractions and focus only on the task of driving safely. Be aware of your surroundings, drive defensively and be alert for others who are not driving safely.
Know before you go
Before deciding to drive, check road and traffic conditions at http://indot.carsprogram.org, 800-261-ROAD (7623) or our INDOT mobile app. County governments post color-coded travel advisories on the Homeland Security website at http://in.gov/dhs/traveladvisory. For regular updates, find links to INDOT’s Facebook and Twitter pages at http://bit.ly/INDOTsocial.
