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Show Keep Your Own Snow Off Public Roadways Private citizens who own property along state highways in Utah are unknowingly breaking the law when they plow snow from their own driveways and parking lots and push it onto state highways. People often clear their own driveways and parking lots of snow and then push the snow out onto state roads in the belief road crews from the Utah Department of Transportation will remove it. However, UDOT snowplows simply push snow off the highway and oftentimes the snow ends up back in the driveway when the trucks go by. The state's snow removal policy (10-42) states: "The removal of the normal snowfall and windrows of plowed snow on private road approaches and driveways, both on and off the highway right-o-way, is the responsibility of the property owner. When clearing these approaches, the property owner shall not push or pile the snow onto the State right-of-way." Aside from adding to UDOT's considerable burden of snow removal, putting snow from privately owned driveways and parking lots onto state highways also creates a dangerous road condition. The extra snow makes the highway that much more slick and unsafe for travel. One bit of advice can help make a tough situation less difficult. If you live along a state highway, push the snow from your driveway approach toward the downside of traffic. That will prevent UDOT snowplows from piling your snow back into your driveway. For example, if you li j on the east side of a state highway, pile the snow around the approach to your driveway on the north side of your driveway rather than the south side. That way the northbound snowplows will Dass vour driveway before they get to your pile of snow. Less snow will end up in the entrance to your driveway. The heavy snowfalls of recent winters in Utah have demonstrated the difficult traveling conditions we all face during snowstorms. The cooperation of private property owners as well as the motoring public can go a long way in easing the troublesome times of winter, UDOT spokesman said. |