Operations Task Force Plow Hit Experiences This webinar is being recorded. November 20, 2019 2:30-3:30 PM (Central)
Agenda 1. State Presentations – Montana – Presenter: Doug McBroom – North Dakota – Presenter: Brandon Beise 2. Other North/West Passage States Plow Hit Experiences
MONTANA’S EXPERIENCE WITH PLOW HIT NWP OPS WEBINAR 11/20 DOUG MCBROOM
TOPICS Statistics Outreach Prevention
STATISTICS 2016-2017 • Plowed 3.6 million miles of road, winter costs $25.1 million • 30 plows Hits • Actively realized we had issues • Need to track costs specifically for this
STATISTICS 2017- 2018 Plowed 4.8 million miles of road at a cost • of $29 million • 31 plows hit • Tracked costs specifically for Winter Hits • $71,010 • Decided to ask clear road states for Help • Recommended a Research Project for Clear Roads
STATISTICS 2018- 2019 • Plowed 3.9 million miles of road at a cost of 28 million • 24 Hits • Tracked costs specifically for Winter Hits • $44,100 • Used radio Adds and Facebook campaign for PSA
OUTREACH • Web Presences • Radio Campaigns
PREVENTION Defensive driving Clear Roads project- Light packages 18-01 Defensive Driving for Snowplow Operations
LIGHT PACKAGE VIDEO
CLEAR ROADS STUDY 18-01 DEFENSIVE DRIVING FOR SNOWPLOW OPERATIONS • Project Objectives • Examine key causes of collisions involving snowplows and other vehicles • Identify defensive driving strategies that snowplow operates can use to reduce the likelihood of being struck by other drivers • Develop 2 training modules for snowplow operators
Completed a Literature review CLEAR ROADS Completed an initial survey of STUDY 18-01 states to determine the type of DEFENSIVE hits DRIVING FOR SNOWPLOW California OPERATIONS Colorado Now finding root Idaho cause from: Ohio Montana
CLEAR ROADS STUDY 18-01 DEFENSIVE DRIVING FOR SNOWPLOW OPERATIONS • Five most common type of crashes include • Hitting fixed objects • Run-off-road crashes • Backing crashes • Crashes where another vehicle rear-ended the snowplow • Wing plow strikes
They are now interviewing states for Root Cause CLEAR ROADS They will develop strategies STUDY 18-01 to avoid those causes DEFENSIVE DRIVING FOR SNOWPLOW They will develop a training OPERATIONS video for states use.
THANK YOU QUESTIONS?
North West Passage 2019 NDDOT Plow Hit Mitigation Efforts Brandon Beise NDDOT, Maintenance Operations 701-328-4359 bbeise@nd.gov
North Dakota Winters Williston 45” Avg Snowfall Grand Forks 0 F Avg January Low 47” Avg Snowfall -3 F Avg January Low Fargo 50” Avg Snowfall Bismarck 0 F Avg Low Temp 51” Avg Snowfall 2 F Avg January Low Cold, dry snow is worst condition for snow fog
North Dakota DOT • Maintain 17,000+ lane miles • Interstate, US Highways, State Highways • No local roads • 61 Sections in 8 Districts • 350 Operators • Plowing hours: 5AM to 7PM • Limited overnight service in three metro areas (Bismarck, Minot, Fargo) • $23M average snow and ice costs per year
North Dakota DOT • 350 Operators • 350 Tandem Axle Snowplows • Most all plows have front plows, wings, and underbody scrapers • 150 – 400 gal brine tanks • 32 Towplows (16 bi-di) • Per Year: • 55,000 Tons of Salt • 2,000,000 Gallons of Salt Brine
Plow Hits - Uncontrollable • Others / Public / Coworkers: Make their own choices • Laws: Legislature makes them, and law enforcement agencies enforce them • Budgets: Set and planned by others • Weather: Every storm event is different We do have the ability to influence some of these items! NDDOT needs to take them into account and develop our own process of risk control.
Plow Hits - Controllable • How we do our work: Best practices & procedures, training • When we do our work: Scheduling, when possible • Should we be on the road? Yes, public expects it. • Equipment chosen: Scheduling, equipment resources • Relationships with outside organizations: Law enforcement, media • Other : ?
NDDOT Plow Hit Mitigations Efforts • Operational Activities • Equipment Modifications • Public Outreach • Technology
Operational Activities • When possible plow with the wind • Reduces snow fog in other lanes
Operational Activities • When possible work in tandem • Second truck following in driving or wide shoulder • Spotter to watch traffic queue or warn of passing vehicles • Higher traffic and metro areas
Operational Activities • Underbody Scraper • Video • Snow fog while alternating underbody scraper and front plow to clear shoulder • Not appropriate for all situations • Using existing tools differently to help ourselves
Equipment Modifications
Equipment Modifications
Equipment Modifications • Experimented with different lighting colors • State law limits use of flashing reds, blues, and greens • Snowplows used colored steady burn lights Elevated Blue Low Green Elevated Green
Equipment Modifications Amber Standard Flashing Truck White Flashing Lighting Red Stead y Burn
Equipment Modifications • Applied elevated lighting to other equipment Towplow Towplow Motor Grader
Equipment Modifications • Testing this season • LED light sticks • Ends of wings and towplows
Public Outreach • Safety Division regularly posts generic safety messages • Coordinate to include plow hit messages • Before upcoming storms • Large impact areas • Districts can request plow messages during storms • Storm specific
Public Outreach • News releases • Especially early season • Warn of meeting/passing vehicles creating snow fog • Warn of passing snowplows
Public Outreach • Media interviews and ride- alongs with operators • Media interviews with NDDOT administration • NDDOT YouTube videos • Social Media posts with pictures of plow crashes • Don’t Crowd the Plow brochures on NDDOT webpage
Technology - HAAS Alert • https://www.haasalert.com/ • Connect to plow lights • WAZE notifications • Audible and visual • Capabilities to connect to ND 511 App
HAAS Alert
HAAS Alert
HAAS Alert
HAAS Alert • Safetycloud.haasalert.com • Reporting • Status • FleetFusion API
Final Thoughts • Using more lights does not assure light can penetrate the cloud • Managing the cloud, may provide better results • Elevate lighting systems above the snow fog • Don’t get covered by caked snow • Public outreach is helpful • No standard procedure • Every event and situation is different • Help yourselves • Appropriate tools, timing, speeds
Brandon Beise, P.E. NDDOT Maintenance Operations bbeise@nd.gov Office: 701-328-4359
Other NWP States Plow Hit Experiences • South Dakota • Minnesota • Wyoming • Idaho • Washington Are the number of plow hits increasing or decreasing? How are you addressing plow hits? Costs for repairs? Any additional information?
Plow Hit Experiences: MnDOT
Plow Hit Experiences: MnDOT
Plow Hit Experiences: MnDOT
Plow Hit Experiences: MnDOT
Plow Hit Experiences: MnDOT
Plow Hit Experiences: MnDOT
Plow Hit Experiences: MnDOT
Plow Hit Experiences: MnDOT
Wrap Up Thank You
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