Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation intended to make the roads safer for plow drivers during the winter.
Senate Bill 465, now a state law, will require drivers to stay 200 feet back from a plow when it’s in motion and actively plowing a road. Drivers will also be required to stay 20 feet back when the plow is stopped.
Van Buren County Road Commission Managing Director Bret Witkowski tells us this new law will be a help to his crew of drivers.
“I think it’s a great law that goes into effect that mirrors the law that was adopted in the state of Wisconsin,” Witkowski said. “I think they took that law and expanded it here to Michigan, saying if you’re behind a plow truck, you need to stay at least 200 feet behind them. And plows are not going to be going 55, I think that’s the thing. Or even 45. They might go 35 miles an hour. They’re going to be going slower.”
Witkowski says the insurance pool representing road commissions around the state pushed for the new law, which also has the backing of Michigan State Police. He notes there are a lot of blind spots in plows, and all too often, drivers don’t give the plows enough space.
Witkowski believes the signing of the bill now will give the state plenty of time to spread the word before the next snowfall.
Michigan State Police say it’s unlikely they’ll randomly ticket people for getting too close to a plow, but the new law will be a tool when there’s a problem.
Witkowski says another reminder of the new rule will be issued as the winter approaches.
