ANKENY – Local 5 got a behind the scenes look into the Iowa Department of Transportation’s command center as they prepare for more winter weather.
Four hundred cameras are used to ensure the roads are in good condition for winter weather driving.
“Sometimes, we will see on our own cameras cars sliding and things of that nature,” explains Andy Lewis, with DOT. “And in any of those cases we will direct resources to the cite.”
The resources they send are the snow plows. Operating around the clock in the command center and out on the highways, staff at the DOT say make sure you don’t follow too close to a snow plow driver.
“We have a lot of incidents, unfortunately, with people rearending plows. It’s very difficult when you’re operating a plow truck to actually see,” says Lewis. “The visibility can be reduced depending on the conditions.”
Recently, blue lights have been added to snow plows to make them more visible for drivers.
But, while you’re out there give yourself enough space between you and the plow, drive slow, and don’t travel alongside a plow too long a distance.
If you’d like to track the snow plows or see which roads are safer go to 511ia.org.
