PORTLAND (NEWS CENTER)-- Plow truck drivers are the reason many of us can get to work on snow days, working 16 hour shifts to keep roads clear. However, many plow drivers say other drivers can make conditions dangerous and challenging to work in.
Keith Emery of Buxton has been driving plow trucks for year, both privately and for a municipality. Currently, he drives a plow for Portland Public Works. On Wednesday, his day started at 10:30pm the night before and it won't end until Wednesday afternoon. Emery says the most difficult part of his job is dealing with drivers who aren't patient or are careless. Cars running red lights, cutting off trucks, not giving plow trucks enough space, or trying to pass at a dangerous time puts plow truck drivers and drivers of other cars at risk of a crash that could lead to injury, or worse. A plow truck's extreme weight and the limited visibility inside the cab can make a bad situation worse.
His frustration was bolstered Wednesday morning when Portland Public Works confirmed a truck had struck two plow trucks in what was believed to be an attempt to pass them. This caused the truck to then run into the intersection's electrical box and knock out power to the traffic lights which continued to blink red through the afternoon.
Emery's request of drivers is to give plow truck drivers plenty of room and time to do their jobs right.