SPOKANE, Wash. — The state Department of Transportation is reminding drivers to avoid crowding snow plows in a series of Thursday morning tweets.
WSDOT says drivers need to give plows plenty of room and stay back at least 200 feet (or 15 car lengths). Drivers should also avoid crowding plows.
Snowplows can also throw up a cloud of snow that can quickly reduce visibility, according to WSDOT. Drivers should never drive into a snow cloud, as it could conceal a snowplow.
WSDOT is reporting a number of problems as they work to clear snow on Thursday morning.
“Please drive carefully this morning. Seen several drivers passing plows to the right while pushing snow in that direction,” WSDOT tweeted at 4 a.m.
Several hours later, they tweeted, “What’s wrong with this picture?," with a photo showing a handful of cars ahead of the last snowplow in line on I-90.
WSDOT also tweeted about a driver who did not clear snow off their can.
“We couldn’t see them coming with their lights covered. Then passed us to the right and now we are clearing their chunks of snow,” the tweet reads. “Don’t be this person.”
A Washington state law addresses unsecured loads. It reads, “Any vehicle with deposits of mud, rocks or other debris on the vehicle’s body, fenders, frame, undercarriage, wheels or tires shall be cleaned of such material before the operation of the vehicle on a paved public highway.”
While the law does not specifically mention snow, it falls under the “other debris” category.
WSDOT said a truck driver also passed a plow on the right on Thursday morning. The plow pushed snow into him, forcing him to drive on part of the shoulder, according to a tweet.
"We had to move left as he swung in front of us," the tweet reads.
WSDOT also called out drivers for making other poor decisions on the freeway. One driver was texting and driver while traveling too close to a snowplow, according to one tweet.
Two other drivers cut off a snowplow and one started fishtailing shortly after.
“Please give our crews space. You put yourself at risk and us,” WSDOT tweeted.