Utah motorists prepare for season of snowy roads


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SALT LAKE CITY — As the nights get cooler and the days get shorter, Utahns are reminded that Old Man Winter will be making his arrival in the very near future.

With that in mind, the Utah Department of Transportation is cautioning drivers to get ready for the inevitable reality of snowy driving conditions.

Paula Magnuson, UDOT transportation technician, drives one of the 508 plow trucks the agency has in its fleet. She said UDOT is already planning for the day the first flakes fall to the pavement.

"We're more than ready when that first storm hits," Magnuson said. "When we know a big storm is coming, we're out there 24 hours prior with brine trucks going out, putting the liquid down."

The salt brine solution is applied to roads to prevent icing, she explained. UDOT typically uses 1.8 million gallons of the solution each year, along with 236,000 tons of road salt, as well as 24,000 tons of grit and volcano cinders to provide extra traction for vehicles on state roads and highways.

UDOT's snow removal equipment also includes snow plows, double-wing trucks with plows on the sides and front, snow blowers, a Howitzer for avalanche control and incident management vehicles, among other tools. The agency budgets about $22 million annually for snow removal, which averages out to approximately $1 million per winter storm.

According to Federal Highway Administration, every year in the U.S. there are 572,386 winter weather-related crashes that account for 11 percent of all auto crashes. Those crashes result in more than 2,400 fatalities and 158,000 injuries.

In Utah, some of the crashes involve vehicles that are following too closely to snow removal trucks, Magnuson explained. She warned drivers to be especially careful when they encounter UDOT plow trucks.

Snow removal equipment is displayed during an open house in Cottonwood Heights on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, as UDOT shows off winter preparations. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
Snow removal equipment is displayed during an open house in Cottonwood Heights on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, as UDOT shows off winter preparations. (Photo: Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)

"We don't want to hurt anybody," Magnuson said. "We will get you there safely."

The weather changes also mean changes in driving conditions that can lead to an increase in road incidents, according to Mike Mower, UDOT traffic records program manager.

Most winters see an increase of crashes, Mower said. Falling temperatures along with precipitation that result in snow and ice on the road are a recipe for dangerous driving conditions, he said.

In 2013, there were 13,581 crashes that involved inclement weather — representing 24 percent of all crashes statewide. Mower noted that increasing following distances, decreasing speed and properly maintaining a vehicle — specifically tires, heating systems and lights — are key to safe travels on winter roads.

"You have to do everything a little bit slower," he said. "When you hit your brakes, if the road is icy or wet, you will slide or whip. You need to give enough time to brake slower and not turn in fast movements."

Jeff Reynolds, statewide manager for UDOT's incident management team, which assists disabled motorists on state roadways, advised drivers to change their behavior during stormy weather, even for vehicles with four-wheel drive.

"You can't stop any faster (with four-wheel drive)," he said.

Reynolds also noted that clearing ice from the windshield, as well as snow off the hood, roof and trunk, helps drivers keep themselves and other motorists safer during storms. He also recommended checking tire pressure and making sure tires have sufficient tread.

Check your lights and windshield wiper blades to make sure they work properly, Reynolds noted, and have an emergency kit that includes a blanket, flashlight, first-aid kit, jumper cables, tire chains or kitty litter, bottled water and granola or energy bars.

In addition to preparing for challenging road conditions, the agency is also involved in managing roads in areas where avalanches might strike.

Bill Nalli, UDOT avalanche safety program manager, said efforts are already underway to monitor potentially dangerous snowslide areas across Utah.

"We're installing all of our remote weather stations, deploying all of our weapons and doing the required maintenance," Nalli explained. "We then start to pay very close attention to the weather and record detailed information about each day's weather."

UDOT records data on snow levels and atmospheric conditions throughout the cold weather months from now through the spring, essentially becoming "amateur meteorologists" for the next several months, he said.

"We play very close attention to the weather and what goes into making the weather," Nalli said.

For those planning to recreate in the backcountry or in areas targeted for avalanche control, check for advisories before heading out to keep yourself safe, he said.

For additional information about winter driving safety, visit highwaysafety.utah.gov; for avalanche safety, visit Utah Avalanche Center.org.

Contributing: Chris Larson, Sam Penrod

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