Topics Covered
Topics Covered
S.M.A.R.T. decision plowing
Attendees will get an overview of the “S.M.A.R.T.” decision driving method, which stands for Scan, Measure risk, Anticipate action, Reach a decision, and Trust your decision. The lesson stresses hazard identification, active assessment, and measuring risk factors to improve driver perception and reaction time. The S.M.A.R.T. method, combined with fundamental speed and space management skills, helps drivers stay safe on the road while performing the job of proper plowing.
Adverse conditions: winter driving
This lesson describes the winter weather conditions that can be hazardous to drivers due to slick roads and reduced visibility. It also teaches participants how to drive safely in those conditions—including how to increase traction and control on wet and icy roads—before having no choice on the real road.
The training offers multiple types of environments, including dense city, freeway, suburban, and rural (primary/county) roads with traffic congestion, pedestrians, and bridges. Real-time visuals are adjustable for time of day, weather conditions, nighttime environments with illumination, headlights, taillights, traffic control signals, fog, rain, and snow.
Snowplow configurations will include:
- Blade/wing adjustments
- Spreader control, with blast button
- Windblown snow and whiteouts
- Obscured windshield
- Clearing, wing plow, tandem, and skip lines
- Object and hazard avoidance
Training Benefits
This training provides a safe environment for students to experience hazardous weather conditions, varied road conditions, heavy vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and difficult maneuvering. The simulator also provides training in an off-the-road setting, which reduces insurance, training, and fuel costs; fleet maintenance; liability exposure; and vehicle damage. Other benefits include:
- Ability to evaluate performance after each simulation
- Decision-making skills are challenged in a safe environment
- Ability to practice maneuvers repeatedly until mastered
- Training is standardized, so each attendee can learn the same techniques in a controlled environment
Studies by the Ohio and Iowa Departments of Transportation, Iowa State University, and the San Antonio, Texas, and West Covina, California, police departments have demonstrated the success of simulator training. A study by the University of Utah found that simulator training significantly reduced the severity and number of accidents.
Who Should Attend
All snowplow drivers, regardless of years of experience, can benefit from training in the simulator. This includes anyone who has snowplowing as part of their position description or who plows as a seasonal or temporary driver.
Credit
- 0.5 Roads Scholar Program Maintenance Certificate credit.
- To the best of our knowledge, this course/activity meets the continuing education requirements for 2.0 PDHs as outlined in Minnesota Statute 326.107. More information concerning continuing education for professionals is available online.
Questions?
Please contact Minnesota LTAP at mnltap@umn.edu.
Sponsors
This training is sponsored by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and hosted by the Minnesota Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) at the Center for Transportation Studies, University of Minnesota. The training was developed and delivered by L3Harris.