A Tip Of The Hat To The Snow Clearing Crew
Thursday, January 10, 2013 @ 3:45 AM
Each winter we face the problem of snow in this region, normally lots of snow. Removal of that snow falls on the shoulders of the unsung heroes, those people who drive the trucks, operate the graders and the front end loaders to make it easier for us to get around.
Before you set out to blame the operators of this equipment, take a moment to look at what they face every snow event day.
If we in this end of the province want better roads we need to influence government to spend more money doing just that.
I feel for the equipment operators. I am not defending the Service Providers, which is another issue, I am only speaking about those people that operate the equipment.
Somehow there are drivers out there who think that their rights supersede the need to have a plough on the street. Look around and watch the impatient drivers who honk their horn expecting the operators to lift the blade, quit moving forward and allow them to pass.
Last week as a YRB operator was loading sand for the highways north of town, he explained how he just had a semi pass him on the right hand side while he was attempting to push the snow from the center line onto the edge of highway 97. I followed him out of the pit and was surprised at the number of motorists who passed, on a hill, solid lines, or whatever. It was as if the operator of the snowplough must consider everyone around him before he (or she) can focus on the job of clearing the highway.
We complain like hell when the roads are not cleared to our satisfaction, while at the same time driving vehicles at summer speeds on highways and roads that cannot sustain those speeds, all the while blaming those operators for the condition of the highway. They are doing the best they can when they are called out to clear the roads. The least we can do is give them the time, and space to get the job done.
I’m Meisner and that’s one man’s opinion.
Comments
Rember Ben some people are more important than the rest of us.
Good call, Ben.
I agree that people need to be more patient around snow plows and I don’t agree with the dangerous passing that they do, however I wouldn’t call the operators heroes as they are just doing their jobs…
I agree Ben. Its amazing what some people will do to be the first one to arrive at a red light.
So I pose this thought. In many other workplaces they have quality improvement circles and the workers who do the work that ought to be on a continuous improvement cycle in a changing world are part of that team. So what have the drivers done to see how other jurisdictions clear snow? Do not just complain, be part of the âfix itâ team.
Or have they tried that and it is management that is belligerent. Or is it the funding administrators. In other words, where is the dude(tte) who is stopping improvement? It is obvious to me that improvement in snow clearing in BC needs to be improved big time, especially in this City.
This is how they plow highways in Ontario. http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/graphics/english/safety/winterdrive/snow-plows.jpg
The traffic line cannot get past the plows and the plows can get the whole width done at one time. They will not encounter the event described in the article above.
Even in a mid USA location which does not get too much snow, they know the effective way of plowing a highway â âConga lineâ in Lincoln Nebraska
http://www.nebraskaweatherphotos.org/Dsc_8759d70sm5.jpg
Look at the lead plow in this conga line. Looks like it could cover a two lane stretch of highway all by itself in one pass. Must be pulling the whole vehicle to the right. It is amazing that it even works enough for a trial run like this was.
http://colledun.com/gallery/albums/TowPlow/TowPlow.sized.jpg
Then again, that is what they do in Sweden according to this. http://swedishfig.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c6ce353ef010537206b05970b-800wi
And this is what Maryland does .. http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/bs-md-snow-removal-20121119-001,0,2156849.photo
This is the way the City of Toronto plows CITY streets with multiple lanes. Same way as highways does.
http://torontophotoblog.blogspot.ca/2007/12/toronto-snow-dec-2007-snow-plows-on.html
Perhaps it is that PG people are too proud to take advice from other jurisdictions. Or is it that they just think they have all the answers right here in this cityâs limits?
As my parents once said: âit is time to go out and see the worldâ. I did and I do â¦. these days, the internet has allowed me to reach much further. Time more people in charge of this city did the same. They might learn something.
I agree. People’s attitudes these days are that their schedules and what they are doing is more important than anyone elses.
oh, and for gawd sakes people, when there is a windrow down the center of the road (Victoria for example) there is no longer room for four lanes. Dont wedge in beside me at the lights and then expect to drag race to the narrow spot where the cars are parked up ahead…
We dont have to worry about agressive drivers in the residential areas of the City. We havent seen a snow plough all winter. I forgot after the first snowfall was all but melted the City had graders and front end loaders cleaning out the gutters but the rest of the street was bare.
And thanks Gus for all the info. I didnt have the time to read it.
Cheers
Victoria for example …. ??? … LOL … more like on every multi laned street we have. The city needs to invest in some signs to stick into the snow. Better still, only plow a single lane.
I think the city is liable for causing an accident since they have substandard road widths until the windrows are removd.
Not to mention that there is no visibility for people making turns from and into intersecting side streets.
I do not know who at the City is capable of putting a think cap on. Anyone looking at those situations from a safety point of view knows better than that. Where is the City safety person?
hence why I said “for example” – I dont have the kind of time to pull up websites and list every multi lane road in PG ;)
In town here, the equipment operators have a difficult job, as pointed out, trying to keep the public safe from them, as they do their work. They only can do the work that they are told to do. A lot of the problems are with the administration and of course, the driving public.
Folks, don’t try to be able to read an operators mind as to what he is going to do. Try to be patient and wait for his signal to you to proceed.
It really will make everyone safer and more efficient.
On the highways, the police need to travel along with the plows and ticket people who have no regard for others’ safety. I don’t know if they have the manpower to do that though.
On street width, the city could do much better. I have seen them at times, wing back the snowbanks but that is very rare. Maybe they need a couple more snowblowers, that can clear right to the curbs. When streets get down to about half their normal width, I think this is unacceptable.
In town here, the equipment operators have a difficult job, as pointed out, trying to keep the public safe from them, as they do their work. They only can do the work that they are told to do. A lot of the problems are with the administration and of course, the driving public.
Folks, don’t try to be able to read an operators mind as to what he is going to do. Try to be patient and wait for his signal to you to proceed.
It really will make everyone safer and more efficient.
On the highways, the police need to travel along with the plows and ticket people who have no regard for others’ safety. I don’t know if they have the manpower to do that though.
Sorry for that.
I would have to ask, which is better, a police escort in order to enforce and do nothing for the effectiveness of the plowing operation or a second plow in order to prevent …. and improve efficiency, effectiveness and safety all at the same time.
I do not recall ever having passed at least tandem set of plows on the highways in BC. I have often encountered a single one as well as well as a lone plow, maybe the same one, plowing the snow they deposited on the shoulder further to the sice.
It looks like you had two windows open, give more …:-)
some of you guys should have a go at runnning a grader or loader.
“some of you guys should have a go at runnning a grader or loader”
Boy, what a defensive attitude. Nothing would ever change if everyone were like that.
You should sometime try to make some arrowheads from flint rather than complaining that it can be done more easily.
;-)
Ben, thanks for the reminder, just wish your readership included the dummies none of us have time for.
I like your first post gus and I’ve seen every single one of those situation here in Ottawa.
The first time I saw a plow like the one in your third post I had to take a second look. I thought PG had some pretty impressive snow clearing equipment, but that thing was something else. On big snowfalls, I always see three plows abreast on the 417 (the freeway) blocking ALL traffic behind them. They only do about 50 KM/H and it does slow traffic down, but there also isn’t a speck of snow left on the road after their sweep.
I think the attitude here is “you may be inconvenienced, but your road will be safe” vs. “we’ll try our best to plow around you while you keep on your merry way”. Totally different approach and from what I can tell, it works.
What ever happened to towing vehicles at night when the snow removal crews are trying to do their jobs? I always have a good chuckle when I see a vehicle plowed in because they were parked on the street!
It amazes me how many ppl still refuse to put down their cell phones while driving! Bad road conditions, dumb drivers and ignorant behavior don’t mix! Oh and could you please take a second to turn on your turn signal!
Our Road was plowed by 12 Noon yesterday after we had over a Foot of Snow over night and this is a Country Side Road out of Town in Vanderhoof, we get great Service from our YRB, driving around PG wants me to go back Home again ! I don’t know how anyone can take it, for all the Taxes you pay!
I saw tandem plowing down the hart just the other day, so anyone who says they don’t do it here is wrong. But the city plowing is another thing. We have been plowed out once this winter. My neighbours have all had to invest in 4x4s just to get out to the highway.
Interceptor “oh, and for gawd sakes people, when there is a windrow down the center of the road (Victoria for example) there is no longer room for four lanes. Dont wedge in beside me at the lights and then expect to drag race to the narrow spot where the cars are parked up ahead..”
You’re just sore cause I beat you, lol;)
Seriously, I agree, feels like roller-derby out there,some days.
Good post, and post and post, Give more. Agreed;)
This is the absolute worst winter road conditions I have seen in this city in decades and you bet I do not call blame to the operators.
The guys doing the roads are doing a good job. Just because the ones who control the purse strings are wasting money on trips and audits its not the workers fault. Blaming the workers is the same as getting mad mailman for delivering bills..
There are many situations that the operators are at fault. Such as, why the width of the road at the south end of Domano is slowly becoming single lane where you would turn left down Malaspina. The curb is buried ten feet back from the traveled portion of the road. People can almost swap spit while passing each other around that corner. Then of course there are the meat heads that turn left around the corner in the opposite lane.
People are pretty much complete idiots!
I would love to tip my hat to a plow or loader driver but have`nt seen one since last year
Do they still exist????
The real meat heads are the ones that try to put up light standards on highway 16 across from Walmart in a blinding snow storm on a 9% grade. They waited two weeks to start work in a snow storm that dropped 8 inches of snow. Highways should have told them to hold off a day until the snow was cleared properly and it was safe to work.
I appreciate the snow plows on the highway that time their slow down at places where a safe pass can be made… most will even indicate its safe to pass with a right signal light as they slow down and give room on the left to pass.
I had a neat experience many years ago. We had a grader operator who cleared the street without dumping a lot of rolled up packed snow and ice into driveways. Old guy he was. He squared and angled and slid the blade in and out and all without stopping. Marvellous to watch. You just got the impression that man could do anything with that machine. One day in late February, I hoped to predict the last snowfall of the year (successfully, as it turned out) I got him to stop, he opened the door and I slit a box of beer in under his feet, and yelled “Thank You” above the roar of the engine. Gee, he had a nice smile, as he drove off down the street.
Good going rox. Nice show of appreciation of quality and ability.
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