Road safety in harsh weather conditions

Plowing city streets after a heavy snowfall can be daunting, especially if there are cars parked along Main Street during snowplow worktime. Ask anyone on a county road who has had a mailbox snagged by a plow (the plow drivers verbally apologize, but no one hears at 4 a.m.), parking on the road is not an option.

Although there is no law on the books, Thompson Falls Police Chief Chris Nichols shared that city crews do appreciate the savvy car owners who park elsewhere in anticipation of plows coming through overnight. “The north side of Main Street allows for 24 hour of overnight parking,” explained Nichols, “there are a few residences along Main Street who use the road for parking, but they are likely accustomed to the plow routine in town.” Nichols joked that some people getting ready for work in the morning might be surprised to finds their vehicle buried in snow as the plow had tried to work around the car to complete the plowing task. He added, “The south side of Main Street parking is limited to two-hour parking – that is because the businesses depend on those spaces for customers.

When plows are needed, so is caution while driving on roads throughout the county. “The most important advice I can give in driving conditions like this is to plan for extra time,” said Sanders County Sheriff Tom Rummel, “I know a lot of people commute to different towns for work. If you are used to your drive being about a half hour, tagging an additional 20 minutes to that plan will lower your stress and speed on the roads.” Also in his bucket of safety advice, Rummel admonishes giving adequate distance to the vehicle in front of you, “Even in good conditions, it is amazing how fast ground is covered between vehicles when the one in front slows down or stops. But in the winter, the vehicle coming up behind is going to have a hard time slowing down and possibly even staying on the road. If that vehicle is you, calamity can be avoided by giving the vehicle in front plenty of space to stop or slow down. Between wildlife and traffic, there is a lot to be aware of when it is icy out.” He also emphasized the importance of quality tires, “Good tires are essential to optimizing your chances for a safe drive.”