Ministry of Highways brings awareness to driving with snowplows

Snowplows throughout Saskatchewan are out in force and that’s prompting the Ministry of Highways — along with snowplow drivers — to educate the public on what their driving etiquette should be when encountering one of these vehicles.

“People operating snowplows are often out working in poor weather conditions to ensure safer travel for Saskatchewan drivers,” Highways Minister Fred Bradshaw said during a media conference Wednesday.

“Snowplow operators sometimes encounter others travelling in ways that make working conditions dangerous. Pass snowplows safely.”

There are more than 300 provincial snowplows operating on a network of about 26,000 kilometres of highways throughout Saskatchewan.

Over the last five years, there have been 18 collisions involving snowplow and other vehicles.

Bradshaw says the numbers have been trending down, but the goal is to get them down to zero.

“This can be an extremely frightening situation. It’s also completely preventable,” he said. “More attention is required to prevent these types of collisions.”

Jarrod Klassen has been a snowplow driver for the past 11 years. He says he has had his fair share of close calls, and people need to be very cautious when trying to pass him on the road.

“Public safety is a top priority, making sure everyone gets home safe at the end of the day — including us,” Klassen said. “My job is to clear the roads to keep people safe and the public’s job is to drive with care so I can get home safely to my family.”

Snowplows use blue and amber lights when plowing and salting or sanding to increase the vehicle’s visibility.

The ministry is offering a list of ideas people can do to ensure they get to their destination safely this winter:

• Plan ahead using the Highway Hotline or calling 511;
• Slow to 60 kilometres per hour when highway equipment or other emergency vehicles are stopped with warning lights in operation;
• Stay back and stay safe since snowplows can create mini-blizzards known as the “Snow Zone.”
• Allow snowplows sufficient time and space since they will pull over about every 10 kilometres or when safe to do so.
• Drive according to weather and road conditions.
• Pass only when it’s safe to do so.

The latest available road condition information can be found on the Highway Hotline website, or by calling 511.

A man tries out a snowplow simulator on Dec. 8, 2021. (Logan Stein/980 CJME)