State officials share safe driving tips ahead of the winter storm

Michigan State Police are urging everybody to take care round first responders, particularly after two troopers have been hit final month.

Greater than a foot of snow might fall in some components of West Michigan, and greater than 100 plow truck drivers with MDOT’s Southwest Division are able to go.

“With that quantity, it should be a problem for positive,” MDOT’s Nick Shirripa says. “However we do have one other 20 or so people in our area who’ve their CDL and are in a position to get right into a plow and assist us out, so realistically 130 to 135 drivers in our area so we’re fairly near a full complement.”

There are greater than 50,000 tons of salt left for West Michigan, which is greater than sufficient to maintain the roads after this winter storm.

“We have solely used about 7,000 tons thus far. In our 5 12 months common, we use about 12,000 tons, so we’re nonetheless doing simply advantageous,” he says.

MDOT officers need drivers on the market to watch out round their plow truck drivers.

“If you are going to cross it, accomplish that in a really protected method. But when we will be trustworthy, there’s actually no safer place to be than just a few 100 yards behind the plow,” Shirripa says.

Michigan State Police are urging everybody to take care round first responders, particularly after two troopers have been hit final month.

“Because the climate modifications, we have to change our habits,” Lt. Michelle Robinson says.

Whereas the visibility is low and the roads are full of snow, decelerate and maintain further area between you and the automotive in entrance of you. Remember to maintain your cellphone charged and an emergency equipment with snacks, water and a blanket within the automotive.

In case you do end up off the roads and in a ditch, be certain your exhaust pipe is not lined by snow whilst you look ahead to assist, if you will get out of your automotive safely.

“Typically individuals wont take into consideration that and what’s going to occur is carbon monoxide and into the automotive as a result of the pipe is clogged,” Lt. Robinson says.

She additionally encourages drivers to get off the freeway should you have been concerned in a crash and wish to attend for assist, if it may be performed safely. That is to keep away from reactionary crashes, which Troopers discover quite a bit on US-131.