Some places in B.C. get much more snow than we are used to in the Sea to Sky.
For example, the town of Woody Point, N.L., can see 638 centimetres (21 feet) of the white stuff in about 90 days, according to the site Current Results, which publishes on weather and science.
Other places get snow for longer in the year. Take Alert, Nvt, for example.
It is located on the northern tip of Ellesmere Island. Its weather station is typically covered in snow 304 days a year, with at least a centimetre of snow on the ground, according to Current Results.
In those places, it is likely almost everyone knows what to do when they encounter a snowplow on the roads.
In Squamish, we had 23 days of snow on the ground in 2024 and 21 days of snow in 2023, according to Environment Canada.
Therefore, many folks aren't as familiar with the rules around snowplows, which are on the roads at all hours during storms.
They, of course, clear the snow, but they also can be spraying deicers and abrasives, which means they have to move slower than other traffic.
The provincial government's TranBC has a list of dos and don'ts for when you see a snowplow.
The bottom line is that the best place to be is behind the snowplow.
Dos
•Do give snowplows about 10 car lengths of room.
"Salt and winter abrasives, as well as rocks and other debris in the snow, can fly—hitting nearby vehicles and decreasing visibility. Tailgating any vehicle puts you at risk of a collision; tailgating a piece of heavy equipment armed with plows only ups the consequences," reads the TranBC website.
•Do pull as far over to the right as is safe when you see a snowplow approaching from the opposite direction along an undivided highway. That way, you will be clear of any salt or sand.
Don'ts
•Don't pass snowplows, almost ever. It’s not safe.
"The plow could be equipped with a wing blade on its left or right side, which can be obstructed by the snow it’s throwing. The plow also may be the first of a series of two to five more plows, staggered diagonally across the road to clear all lanes simultaneously."
•Don't assume the snowplow operator can see you, especially if you’re driving too close and visibility is poor, which it often is in snowstorms.
"Your best defence is to keep your distance."
See more on this topic at TranBC.
