Snow Plows and their Sand

[Snowman]

Just had to vent here about my trip home yesterday on the highway. There was a little snow falling but nothing that was sticking and the highway was pretty dry for the most part. Well I was driving along about 60MPH and then the cars in front of me all of a sudden starting spitting out tiny rocks at my truck and I was getting ticked because it seemed to keep getting worse and I couldn't figure out why they were tossing up so much gravel. Then I looked up ahead past them and there was the snow plow up ahead and he was dropping the sand which I have no idea why because the road didn't need it yet. I was getting ticked because I hate when I have to pass those things as once you get close all hell breaks loose when they are dropping the sand and it just beats the **** out of your vehicle. So I started to go faster to get up to him in order to pass him and save my truck and the paint. Of course when I get there the guy in front of me passes the plow very slow so all this gravel is pounding my truck and I am flashing my brights for this guy to speed up and pass him so I won't be trapped back there anymore. Finally he gets past the plow and I floor it to get past and get up ahead so I don't get stuck behind him another time. Remember this was on the highway so even the plow was going about 50MPH spitting that sand at cars as he was dropping it on the road. I was ticked after that and just knew that I probably had chips all over the front of my truck. I got home and checked and so far have yet to find any but of course I have to wait until I wash the truck to get all that snow slush off to really tell. Sorry had to vent...lol

[Jeff Smith]

Yep. Here in Southern MD the do the same thing. But they only do it at the beginning of winter. They put that stuff everywhere if any snow or ice is inbound. Later, as the season progresses and they start realizeing their budget is going down the tubes, then they start cutting back and waiting until something is actually falling.

I live north of Chicago for a while a few years ago. I saw a couple of times where if snow was forecasted they had trucks staged at shopping centers before there was even a cloud in the sky. As soon as the storm got closer they would load up all the intersections and cross streets. Up there. they did this all season long when the snow was forecasted. I think they had a bigger budget.

[showtime]

They do that around here. A complete WASTE of our money if you ask me.

BTW, get some Xpel on your truck and you won't have to worry about stone chips.

[Mark2]

Snowman, that sounds soooo familiar. I hate it when people don't drive around those snow plows fast enough. I already got one big chip on my bumper this week becouse of a situation like you describe.
We have no snow here yet, but they are throwing sand around here like crazy just becouse the forecast says it might come a few flakes.

[kellyinkc]

Another bad thing is when your are sitting in the turn lane and a plow pulls up along side and stops for light, spraying your car! with salt/sand!

Kelly

[Skuz]

And there are some people around me who still don't understand why I have another car for winter use. I wouldn't want this to happen to my new car.

Still, I care much about the winter car and I don't like them throwing salt and calcium on the snow/slush/ice, with a ratio of 2 units of salt for 1 unit of snow.

The best investment I ever made for the winter car is a 3M transparent protective tape on the hood's first 4 inches. I can't find someone who would do it for my new car, "too difficult" they say.

[Imclean]

Aloha guy's. Sorry I'm new here so please put up with what might apear as a stupid question.... what's snow? hahahaha

[RamAirV1]

I feel your pain! I would rather they just use salt on the roads. the salt will eventually dissolve and wash away, but sand and gravel is forever.

The part about the slow driver trying to pass the snow plow really hits home.

But at least they plow and salt your roads when it snows. In central and southern Indiana they are clueless. When they do finally salt, they dump huge piles of it at intersections and leave everything else untreated. And when the snow is heavy they wait until it is packed down on the road and form ruts before they remove it. Then they say the roads are too bad to plow!

If it snows more than 2 inches in central Indiana, you are taking your life in your hands going out on the roads!

I won't even talk about the drivers who instinctively slam on their brakes when they get to a bridge and go into skids.

RamAirV1