SNOW PLOWING AT 60 MILES PER HOUR

TWO FACTORS AFFECTING AUTOMOBILE--SNOW PLOW ACCIDENTS ARE ROAD CONDITIONS AND VISIBILITY RELATIVE TO THE DRIVERS OF THE TWO VEHICLES. COMING UP BEHIND THE PLOW, THE CAR DRIVER ENCOUNTERS INCREASINGLY CLEAR ROAD, WHILE THE PLOW DRIVER CONTINUES TO FACE BANKED, DRIFTED, AND BLOWING SNOW. IN ADDITION, SNOW ESCAPING FROM THE MOLDBOARD OF THE FRONT-MOUNTED PLOW PLASTERS THE WINDSHIELD, FURTHER DECREASING THE PLOW DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. AT NIGHT, THE GLARE OF AUXILIARY LIGHTS ON FALLING SNOW IS AN ADDED HAZARD. SINCE IT IS DIFFICULT TO ENSURE SPEED REDUCTION BY THE FOLLOWING AUTOMOBILE, NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS BEEN EXPERIMENTING WITH HIGH-SPEED PLOWING. THE PRINCIPAL CHANGE FROM PREVIOUS OPERATIONS HAD BEEN USE OF A BOTTOM-MOUNTED PLOW WHOSE LEADING EDGE EXTENDS ABOUT A FOOT FROM BENEATH THE REAR OF THE CAB TO THE LEFT OF THE TRUCK. THE DISCHARGE END OF THE PLOW TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRUCK HAS A SHORT- RADIUS MOLDBOARD EXTENDING WELL FORWARD AND LOW. THE DISCHARGE IS SIX TO TEN INCHES OUTBOARD OF THE DRIVE WHEELS. THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SYSTEM, AND EXPERIENCE WITH IT TO DATE, ARE DESCRIBED. SINCE ITS INSTALLATION, THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS WITH FOLLOWING CARS.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/1606878
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Vol 102, No 8, PP 56-57, 4 PHOT
• Authors:
  • Hodgins, E B
• Publication Date: 1971-8

Media Info

• Serial:
  • Public Works
  • Volume: 102
  • Issue Number: 8
  • Publisher: Hanley Wood
  • ISSN: 0033-3840
  • Serial URL: http://www.pwmag.com

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Car following; Crashes; Design; Snow removal; Snowplows; Speed; Visibility
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Safety and Human Factors; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00219440
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Oct 3 1971 12:00AM