(HURON COUNTY, ON) – Huron County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) officers would like to remind motorists to always drive according to weather and road conditions after several collisions were investigated by Huron OPP yesterday.
Just after 2:00 p.m. Huron OPP officers and Huron County EMS responded to a report of a single vehicle rollover collision located on Dashwood Road at the west edge of Dashwood. Police arrived on scene to find an eastbound pickup truck had left the roadway, entered into the north ditch and rolled over landing on the driver’s side. Police learned the driver of the vehicle was attempting to make a pass on the snow covered roadway when he lost control of his vehicle. All three occupants in the vehicle sustained minor injuries. A 19-year-old male driver from Mississauga has been charged with making an unsafe lane change.
Huron OPP officers also responded to a single motor vehicle collision in the Town of Goderich that took place around 7:30 p.m. The novice driver was driving on Picton Street East when he slid on the icy road and drove his pickup truck into a hydro pole guide wire. The pickup truck sustained light damages from the collision.
Huron OPP is reminding motorists that when it comes to winter driving, the message is very simple, “If You See Snow, Go Slow”. Road and weather conditions can change very quickly and at this time of the year, it is very important to remember that the simplest of safe driving strategies can make the difference. Always adjust your driving to current weather and road conditions and always reduce your speed when the roads are not clear.
Huron OPP would also like to remind motorists to be patient when they encounter working plows on the roadways. Here are some safety tips that drivers should take into account should they find themselves behind a snow plow.
Be patient and keep a safe distance behind working snow plows. Snow plows often travel slowly because they are removing snow, spreading salt or sand, and applying liquid anti-ice to roadways.
Never pass a snow plow. Snow plows are wider than the average vehicle with large blades that extend a metre or more ahead and into the neighbouring lane. Passing a snow plow could result in a collision.
Don’t drive beside snow plows. You risk collision as snow plows sometimes shift sideways when they are plowing packed snow or drifts.
Move aside. Snow plows often drive along the centerline of a roadway to remove snow. If you are approaching a snow plow from the opposite direction, be prepared to shift right and leave space so they can pass you safely.
Beware of reduced visibility. Even at reduced plowing speeds, a light powdery snow forms a cloud in the wake of a snow plow that severely restricts a driver’s visibility making passing extremely dangerous.
Do not pass between snow plows in tandem. On multi-lane roads snow plows often work in tandem, forming an echelon or “conga line”. Passing or weaving between these plows is dangerous. Please stay well back of echelon plows.