Document
Creator
Contributor
Date Created
1989-09
Publisher
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Format
Description
The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) formed a Snowplow Lighting Task Force to look into a state-wide problem of snowplow/motorist related accidents and make recommendations to reduce this type of accident. A review of accident records showed that an average of 54 such accidents occurred each winter season involving its snowplow trucks, 54% of those accidents listed the snow cloud created during the snowplowing operation as the contributing factor by obscuring the snowplow and its warning lights. Based on the results of this study, the task force was given the responsibility to study the snowplow visibility problem; specifically, the snowplow lighting.
The task force reviewed the issues of warning lights and plowing equipment in detail. It was determined that the snowplow and wing shapes were large contributors to the poor visibility problem by generating snow clouds. Warning lights mounted on the trucks could not be seen because of these clouds. A literature search was conducted but provided no recent studies on the reduction of snowplow accidents through the use of snowplow visibility enhancements.
Comparisons of different lighting configurations during snowplowing operations were video taped in the winter of '87-'88. Mn/DOT learned that regardless of the type of light or configuration, it is possible for the snow cloud to obscure the snowplow truck for a period of time. Comparison tests were run during the winter of '88-'89 between an experimental light configuration recommended by the vendor and the present configuration for warning lights generally used by Mn/DOT. The experimental lights proved to be far more visible, but were also obscured by the snow cloud for a period of time. A limited study on a small strobe light mounted on a wing was also made.
Conclusions drawn from this short study are that warning lights alone will not solve the snowplow accident problem. Plow and wing design should be studied; snowplow operation procedures should be reviewed; public awareness should be broadened.
The task force reviewed the issues of warning lights and plowing equipment in detail. It was determined that the snowplow and wing shapes were large contributors to the poor visibility problem by generating snow clouds. Warning lights mounted on the trucks could not be seen because of these clouds. A literature search was conducted but provided no recent studies on the reduction of snowplow accidents through the use of snowplow visibility enhancements.
Comparisons of different lighting configurations during snowplowing operations were video taped in the winter of '87-'88. Mn/DOT learned that regardless of the type of light or configuration, it is possible for the snow cloud to obscure the snowplow truck for a period of time. Comparison tests were run during the winter of '88-'89 between an experimental light configuration recommended by the vendor and the present configuration for warning lights generally used by Mn/DOT. The experimental lights proved to be far more visible, but were also obscured by the snow cloud for a period of time. A limited study on a small strobe light mounted on a wing was also made.
Conclusions drawn from this short study are that warning lights alone will not solve the snowplow accident problem. Plow and wing design should be studied; snowplow operation procedures should be reviewed; public awareness should be broadened.
Keywords
Collection Name
Report Number
89-03
File Type
Rights Statement
Content Statement
This item was digitized from the original print text.
Persistent Link
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14153/mndot.14589