GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Snow began to fall throughout the region well before 5 a.m. Monday morning and is expected to continue through Tuesday afternoon.
The Kent County Road Commission (KCRC) provided a storm response update Monday, saying the its day crew came in early to apply a sand/salt mixture to the roads to help reduce snow from bonding to the pavement.
KCRC said during the ongoing heavy snowfall, plow drivers will focus on scraping the accumulated snow off the pavement and then applying material as needed.
Officials advised everyone to leave additional time for their morning commute as reduced speeds will be needed.
Also remember to give plow trucks plenty of room, and do not pass on the right; KCRC said the wing plows may be in use. Other reminders that officials shared are:
MAINTAIN SAFE DISTANCE
Snowplows are large and operators cannot see directly behind the truck.
SLOW DOWN WHEN YOU SEE A SNOW PLOW
Snow plows travel at a slower speed; the most common crashes are motorists hitting the rear end of the plow. Stay alert and watch for a plow’s green and amber lights.
DO NOT PASS PLOW ON RIGHT
Plows push snow to the right shoulder and many are equipped with a wing plow – a 6-8 foot extension on the right-hand side of the plow. This wing is difficult to see and can do harm to a passing car.
DO NOT PASS IN A SNOW CLOUD
Be sure the road ahead is clear of vehicles or snowdrifts before attempting to pass on the left. A snow cloud could be caused by crosswinds or by a snowplow, so be patient.
REMEMBER: PLOWS DO MORE THAN PLOW
Plow trucks also spread salt and deicing agents may spray your car. Maintain a safe distance between your car and the snowplow and be extremely cautious when passing on the left. Remember, do NOT pass a snow plow on the right.
BE PREPARED
No matter when incidents occur, it is best to be prepared. Car emergency kits help motorists navigate a potentially dangerous situation until helps arrives.
- Make sure the vehicle is in good working order.
- Check the condition of the tires or consider snow/winter tires
- Replace the wiper blades, if needed
- Fill up on antifreeze and window-washer fluid
- Ensure the battery has sufficient charge
- Try to keep the gas tank full
- Keeping an emergency kit in the vehicle is also important. It should include things like:
- A blanket and warm clothes (boots, coat, gloves)
- A flashlight
- Jumper cables
- Tow rope
- Shovel
- First aid kit
- Bag of sand or cat litter for traction
- Cell phone charger
- Battery-operated radio
- Water
- Non-perishable food, snacks
- Reflective triangles
The State of Michigan has a downloadable Auto Emergency Preparedness Kit Checklist to assist the planning process.
KCRC has compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the winter season to help address motorist and resident inquiries. The FAQs can be found here.
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