OCIPT holding Touch-a-Plow event to promote safe driving this winter season
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The winter season can be hazardous for driving and the Oxford County Injury Prevention Team (OCIPT) wants raise awareness for safe driving practices.
Local residents in Oxford County are invited to attend one of three Touch-a-Plow events in Woodstock, Ingersoll or Tillsonburg early next month, where they will be able to actually get into a snowplow.
Public health nurse and OCIPT member Jacqueline Deroo said that by getting into a plow people will be able to see what the drivers see and don’t see when plowing.
“(We’re) hosting these events to bring awareness to snow plows and it kind of provides an educational point where both kids and parents can sit in a plow and see where their blind spots are and realize that you need to see the plows, they won’t always see you,” Deroo said. “It’s a great educational piece that way, to keep people safe, especially when there are so many snow plows out now.”
Deroo also said that people should never pass snowplows on the road and should always keep well away from them while driving.
“I think this is really important,” Deroo said. “I think there’s a misperception that the plow can see you, so people will pass plows thinking that they are going to be safe and seen, but that’s not always the case.
“Snowplows have many different functions with the blades,” she added. “It causes reduced visibility with snow because it’s flying everywhere. So bring light to that will definitely help people drive safer.”
Driving safely around snowplows is just one way to stay safe while driving this winter. According to information from the Ministry of Transportation, 33 drivers were killed and over 3,000 were injured in 2013 when driving too fast for winter conditions.
The event will also feature a free skate after the information lesson.
This will be the first time OCIPT is holding an event like this, Deroo said they thought it was a good idea to hold this event because most people aren’t aware of how to be safe when driving around snowplows.
“We thought that this was a perfect opportunity to get in contact with people who are interested with skating and in love with winter,” she said. “Providing this information to parents and kids is good and they’re usually pretty receptive when it’s fun.”
The events will take place in Woodstock on Jan. 3, Ingersoll on Jan. 4 and Tillsonburg on Jan. 5 (full list of times below).
Touch-a-Plow events
Woodstock
Jan. 3, 2017
Touch-a-Plow - 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Free Public Skate – 11:15 a.m. to 12:05 p.m.
Woodstock Community Complex
381 Finkle Street
Ingersoll
Jan. 4, 2017
Touch-a-Plow – 10 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Free Public Skate – 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Ingersoll District Memorial Arena
97 Mutual Street
Tillsonburg
Jan. 5, 2017
Touch-a-Plow – 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Free Public Skate – 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Tillsonburg Community Complex
10 Lisgar Avenue