WYDOT Urges 'Don't Crowd the Plow!' After 67 Plows Hit in 3 Years

Parts of extreme southeast Wyoming could see heavy snow this evening through Wednesday, and the Wyoming Department of Transportation is reminding drivers, "Don't Crowd the Plow!"

According to Senior Public Relations Specialist Andrea Staley, 18 WYDOT plows were hit last winter, 26 were hit during the 2020-2021 winter season, and 23 were hit during the 2019-2020 winter season.

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Of those 67 snowplow hits, 21, or 31.34%, occurred in WYDOT District 1 in southeast Wyoming.

https://www.wyoroad.info

"It is good to note that the average number of plow hits for winters 2014-2019 was about eight statewide, so we've been seeing a big increase in recent years," said Staley.

Courtesy: WYDOT

WYDOT says drivers can help them keep their plows on the roads and out of the shop by following these safety tips:

Be patient! Plows move slowly (35 mph), but the road behind the plow is the clearest and safest for driving. Give the plow plenty of space (at least four car lengths), especially in slick conditions.
Don't pass unless you have a clear view unobstructed by snow; plows can sometimes create their own whiteout conditions as they clear snow. If you see a plume of snow, slow down!
Never pass a plow on the right, even if it is plowing the left lane on a four-lane highway/interstate. Every plow has a wing attachment on the right side, which can be hard to see until it's too late.

2022's Deadliest Wyoming County by Traffic Deaths

While car crashes can occur anywhere, some roads in Wyoming are more dangerous than others.

According to Wyoming Highway Patrol data, there were 117 fatal crashes in the Cowboy State in 2022 resulting in 133 deaths.

Of those fatal crashes, the majority (13.68%) occurred in Laramie County -- two in January, one in February, one in March, two in April, one in June, two in July, three in August, two in September, one in November, and one in December.

Sweetwater County saw the second most fatal crashes last year, 12, while Fremont and Lincoln counties each saw 10.

Albany and Park counties each recorded eight, and Campbell, Converse, and Natrona counties each tallied seven.

The deadliest 2022 crash in Laramie County took place on June 17 when two semis collided on Interstate 80 east of Cheyenne and immediately became engulfed in flames killing both drivers and a passenger.

Laramie County also saw two fatal crashes involving motorcyclists, two fatal crashes involving juveniles, and a fatal crash involving a pedestrian last year.

Below is the Wyoming Highway Patrol narrative of every fatal crash that occurred in Laramie County in 2022.