The first snow of the 2013 winter season means the City of Twin Falls has dispatched its Street Department to maintain City roadways for safe winter driving.
City street workers began plowing and sanding City streets at 6 p.m. Tuesday night and continued through 1 a.m. Wednesday to clear main arterials – such as Blue Lakes Boulevard, Pole Line Road Washington Street, and Eastland Drive – before drivers began their morning commute. Street workers resumed plowing City streets at 6 a.m. Wednesday morning to sand both arterial and residential streets.
The City does not normally plow residential streets because it could damage vehicles, mailboxes or other objects located along the roadways. However, under extreme circumstances the Street Department may plow residential streets to open those roadways to residents or emergency vehicles.
To help the City clear and maintain roadways, citizens are asked to not park vehicles along busy roadways during heavy snowfall – if possible – and to yield to snow plows. Snow plows must maintain a consistent rate of speed to effectively remove snow from the roadways. Pedestrians on sidewalks should also use caution because plows eject snow to curbsides.
Drivers should continue to use caution while driving, especially at intersections. Although the City uses a de-icing mixture of sand and salt, it cannot melt ice or packed snow when temperatures remain below 25 degrees.
The following are a few tips to prevent collisions during winter driving conditions:
- Maintain at least 4 seconds of distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you. Pick a point in the road, after the vehicle in front of you passes, you should be able to count to four before your vehicles crosses that same point.
- Give yourself extra time to travel during winter driving conditions. Plan for slower speeds and possible delays.
- Approach all intersections with care. Give yourself extra stopping distance to avoid sliding into oncoming vehicles.