Don't assume the snow plow operator can see you. Every truck has blind spots which reduce side and rear visibility. This also reduces the chance of loose material hitting your vehicle. Keep your headlights on low beam. Salt, calcium chloride, anti-skid materials, and plowing are utilized, depending on the type of road and current weather conditions.
Salt is used to melt the snow or ice.
Liquid calcium chloride is mixed with salt when temperatures drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit to increase the salt's effectiveness. Anti-skid materials help provide traction and can be sand or fine stone, sometimes referred to as grits. When snowfall is heavy enough to require plowing, the time needed to complete a route can nearly double. The BCEO budgets for about 3,700 tons of salt for an average Butler County winter. Salt trucks are loaded with about eight to ten tons of salt, enough to apply approximately 700 pounds of salt for each mile of roadway on each individual route.