Winter Driving on Mount Vernon Streets

We get a lot of calls about snowy and icy road conditions in Mount Vernon. Some callers thank the City for its efforts to clear the roads, and some call with advice on how they would go about clearing the roads if they worked in our Public Works Department.

We appreciate the praise, and the good advice! But with snow in this weekend’s forecast, we thought it might be a good time to summarize how the City of Mount Vernon strategizes its approach to making our roads safe, and to review what those of us who drive these city streets can do to improve road conditions.

First of all, how about we slow down a bit! Give yourself extra time to get to where you’re going. If there is compact snow and ice on the street; accelerate gradually, keep your speed low, and begin braking far ahead of the intersection you will be stopping at.

When snowstorms hit, our city streets department often works overnight using 4 snowplows to plow the city’s main arterial streets (see map), and then tends to the hills, the “feeder” streets, and some of the more heavily traveled residential streets. It is important to keep in mind that resources do not exist to clear every city street down to dry pavement. It is up to those of us who drive the streets to navigate them slowly and safely because once a street is packed down to a hard layer of snow and ice, snowplows are ineffective at removing that ice.

What about salt? Salt has so many uses—from melting snow on roads, to preserving meat—but salt is not a cure-all. Even saltwater freezes (at 28.4 degrees), and the forecasted temperatures are looking to be well below that mark in the days ahead. Salt will be used sparingly, and where it is appropriate, on Mount Vernon’s streets.

Let’s put sand on everything! When is that ever a good idea? Sand is used to create better friction on icy surfaces, but it is not used without consequences to the public’s drainage and ecosystems. It also requires time and resources to clean up after the cold weather is gone. Sand is used on icy Mount Vernon streets, but it is used strategically, and not on every street.

The snow plows have blocked my driveway (or my parked car) with snow! Yep. Mine too. A snow plow driver has one priority—to clear crucial roadways so that the community at-large (including first responders) can get to where they need to go. We should never expect the plows to clear each of our private driveways with the little time they have. That’s our job as residents! Some of us shovel it ourselves, and some of us hire the neighbor kid to do it. But all of us are grateful that we don’t live in a region where we have to shovel out of our driveway several times a week, throughout the winter!

So, breathe. Whether you love the idea of a white Christmas, or you can’t wait for spring; this will all melt away soon enough. Until then, let’s practice conscientious driving. The city’s road-clearing efforts provide for safer travel but keeping our streets accident-free is the responsibility of all of us who get behind the wheel.

Thanks for doing your part to keep Mount Vernon’s streets safe. Happy Holidays!