Ohio snowplow accidents increase; state plans LED flashers

By Ashley Luthern

aluthern@vindy.com

The Ohio Department of Transportation has seen a spike in crashes involving state snowplows this winter, and it’s looking to a green lantern for help.

The department has proposed installing flashing green lights on top of snow removal equipment to increase its visibility.

Only one month into the winter weather season, the number of accidents already has surpassed last year’s total. So far there have been 63 crashes statewide, compared to 57 all of last winter season, said Scott Varner of ODOT’s Central Office Communications.

No accidents with snowplows have been reported in Mahoning County this winter. On Dec. 7, a car hit the back of an ODOT plow that was stopped at a traffic light on state Route 5 in Trumbull County, said Kristen Erickson, an ODOT District 4 spokeswoman.

The driver who hit the ODOT plow was given a citation, she said.

Last year throughout District 4, which comprises Ashtabula, Mahoning, Portage, Stark, Summit, and Trumbull counties, four accidents with ODOT snowplows were recorded, compared to five so far this year.

To combat the increase of accidents, ODOT has proposed the use of green lanterns — flashing LED lights placed atop snow removal equipment — as a way to help snowplows be seen better on the highway.

Read the full story Monday in The Vindicator and on Vindy.com.