If you are thinking of heading out over the holidays to find snow, here is a friendly reminder about what to do when you encounter a snowplow on the road.
It’s illegal to pass a snowplow on the right on state highways. On most Oregon highways, snowplows have “wing” plows that stick out more than eight feet from the right front edge of the truck. The snow being plowed or blown off the road can contain rocks and other debris that can damage vehicles.
“Passing on the right of a snowplow isn’t just against the law, it’s a risky gamble with lives. Our plows work hard to clear roads for everyone’s safety, but their wings and the swirling snow make visibility challenging. Patience behind a plow isn’t just courteous, it’s a commitment to keeping everyone safe on the road.”
Drivers who try to pass on the right when a snowplow is in operation run the risk of damaging their vehicles, hitting the snowplow, or running off the road and into a snowbank or guardrail.
Drivers should give winter maintenance vehicles such as plows and sanders a wide berth. They do not travel at high speeds and other vehicles quickly overtake them. Plows and sanding trucks pull over periodically to let traffic pass. The best advice is to stay at least three car lengths behind and give yourself more time to get where you are going.
For the latest travel conditions, visit ODOT’s mobile-friendly travel information website, TripCheck.com. The site features:
- Maps updated in real time that display road conditions.
- Color-coded traffic speeds on most roads across the state.
- Trouble spots — whether from a traffic incident, inclement weather, construction, or maintenance.
- Alerts: These are high-impact incidents prominently displayed.
- More than 700 camera images from key locations throughout Oregon as well as western Idaho, northern Nevada, southern Washington, and northern California.
- Custom camera pages, where you can choose up to 10 different cameras for quick checks of specific routes.
- Waze user reports and incidents (overlaid on the TripCheck map).
- Information on trucking centers, safety rest areas, Sno-Parks and more.
- “Travel Time,” showing current travel times from key highway connections.
- Links to public transportation providers, schedules, planners and more, so you can explore car-free options.
TripCheck information is also available via X (Twitter). Visit TripCheck.com and click the On-the-Go tab to earn more. TripCheck TV allows users to create a custom display of road condition information and camera images.
Mindy McCartt
Public Information Officer
Oregon Department of Transportation | Communications
Region 2 (Lincoln, South Polk, Linn, Benton and Lane counties)
Cell:503-507-6045
George Custer lives in Oakridge with his wife Sayre. George is a former smokejumper from his hometown of Cave Junction, a former captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. and ran a construction company in Southern California. George assumed the volunteer duties as the Editor of the Highway 58 Herald in 2022. He loves riding his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, building all things wood, and playing drums on the weekends in his office.
