Plows Visit Schools, Winter Safety Day Begins

TRANSPORTATION/PUBLIC WORKS -Plows Visit Schools, Winter Safety Day Begins

School children across Nova Scotia are receiving an education in snow safety once again this year.

Nova Scotia's Winter Safety Day kicks off today, Nov. 27, and safety messages are being passed along by crews from the Department of Transportation and Public Works.

"Winter safety is everyone's business, especially children," said Ron Russell, Minister of Transportation and Public Works. "Our crews are educating children, and through them the wider public."

Department staff say the response from children remains as strong as ever. Each year, crews travel to hundreds of schools during the winter and pass along colouring books and educational messages. They also give children an up-close look at large machinery.

"It's a worthwhile project, and greatly appreciated by students, teachers and plow operators," said George Pilgrim, a supervisor with the department. "It's a real eye-opener for the children, as they sit in the driver's seat of the plow and realize that visibility is reduced for the driver. It's a good educational opportunity."

About 15,000 colouring books are distributed in schools each year. The safety messages include:

• don't slide or walk on snowbanks close to the road;
• don't make tunnels or snow forts near the road;
• do stay well back from plows and trucks, even if they are not moving;
• do enjoy winter, away from the road;
• do dress appropriately for winter.

Staff also want children to pass along safety tips to their parents and family members. Plow operators want adults to avoid shovelling snow in the road, parking cars on the road, leaving logs next to the road, or putting mailboxes too close to the road.

The Department of Transportation and Public Works highways division manages more than 23,000 kilometres of roads in Nova Scotia. It maintains an inventory of 3,800 bridges and operates seven provincial ferries. Staff provide services from district offices located in Bridgewater, Bedford, Truro and Sydney.