Winter Weather - Get It Together. Illinois Tollway urges drivers to slow down and focus on safety during winter travel.
While driving an Illinois Tollway snowplow over the past four years, Ramiro Quintero often sees drivers ignoring the challenges posed by winter weather.
“I see people that don’t drive safely, don’t leave enough space between cars,” said Quintero, an Illinois Tollway equipment operator/laborer who works on the heavily traveled Tri-State Tollway (I-294). “It makes me nervous for myself and others on the road when you have distracted drivers holding cellphones or looking elsewhere, or just driving too fast for the conditions.”
This winter driving season, Illinois Tollway officials and road workers are reminding drivers of the vital role they play in ensuring roads remain safe during storms and severe weather.
“We’re asking our customers to work with us to keep our roads safe during winter weather by taking a few precautions,” said Chief of Maintenance and Traffic Rohan Gayle The easiest, most critical step drivers must take during winter weather is to slow down and increase their distance from other vehicles, especially plows and emergency responders. Far too often we see drivers failing to slow down even during storms. That’s dangerous not only for the driver, but for everyone else out on the road.”
During winter storms, the Illinois Tollway uses rotating shifts of more than 200 skilled equipment operators, mechanics and supervisors to operate, maintain and direct the 196 snowplows and other equipment used to keep roads open and safe. The Illinois Tollway system includes 294 miles of five roadways stretching across 12 counties in Northern Illinois.
Tollway snow crews cover 2,281 lane miles to deice and plow one pass of the Tollway system during a storm event – equal to a trip from Chicago to San Francisco. Crews typically work alternating, 12-hour shifts to keep all plows operating around the clock until the storm ends and the roads are clear.
Driving a snowplow during a storm requires intense concentration, Quintero said, adding that work becomes more difficult – and can even be dangerous – when other drivers follow closely or crowd the snowplow and the plow blades that extend from the vehicle while attempting to pass.
When driving with snowplows: Stay clear of snowplow path, blades extend several feet from the equipment. Remember that conditions in front of snowplows are usually much worse. Know that snowplow drivers have a reduced field of vision during operations. Do not attempt to pass and maintain a safe distance.
“Sometimes it’s hard to see because you have snow coming down, you have ice,” said Quintero. “You have to drive cautiously and be aware of other drivers and they need to give us the room we need to do our job. At the end of the day, we want to go back to our families just like everyone else.”
When winter storms are at their worst, the Tollway’s roadway team will employ tandem snow plowing operations. Tandem snow plowing is a method of snow removal where multiple snowplows are arranged diagonally to cover all lanes in a single sweep. Each snowplow is stationed behind and staggered to the right or left of the unit ahead, creating a continuous flow of snow removal. This approach is particularly effective in reducing the time required to restore roads to a clear, dry state and is essential for maintaining safe travel routes during and following snowstorms.
In addition, the Illinois Tollway also uses advanced technology to prepare for winter storms and respond rapidly and efficiently when they strike. Snowplows are equipped with computerized equipment and on the roadway sensors and other specialized instruments measure pavement temperatures and moisture levels. Those instruments help mangers in the Illinois Tollway’s Traffic and Incident Management center and crews calculate when to plow and how much salt or brine should be applied to specific sections of pavement on the system to clear snow and ice.
But drivers’ still can do their part to keep roads safe by adjusting their driving to match the weather conditions.
Quintero said he still reminds his three children – who are all in their 20s – to take extra precautions when they drive during winter storms.
“I tell them ‘be cautious, slow down, take your time, be aware of your environment and the other drivers around you’,” he said.
That’s good advice for everyone getting behind the wheel this winter.