BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — Ahead of the first significant snowfall of the season for much of Western New York, the New York State Thruway Authority is launching a pilot program with a tech company to alert drivers of incoming snowplows.
The program will debut a new digital tool with a company called iCone, which collects real-time information about what’s happening on roadways and alerts drivers through their phones and cars’ Bluetooth.
The Thruway Authority said 50 of its plows will be equipped with the iCone technology. Locally, certain plows in the Niagara section of the Thruway, which work on the I-190 and the Grand Island bridges, will be equipped with iCone devices.
For drivers who use Google Maps, Waze or some other navigation app, they will get an alert that a plow is ahead, which is similar to drivers receiving alerts about traffic or a car on the road’s shoulder.
If everything goes well with the iCone technology, the Thruway Authority said it will look to install iCone devices in all Thruway Authority plow trucks.
Even with the technology, it’s up to drivers to be safe on the road as well.
“People should leave ample time to get where they go,” said Matthew Latko, Buffalo Division Director of the New York State Thruway Authority. “Get up early, give yourself time be prepared for possible delays, slow down in your travels when you see plow trucks out there, stay a good distance back.”
In terms of new equipment, the Thruway Authority will be rolling out over 50 new pieces of equipment statewide with new plows, loaders and snow pushers. It said more than 250 plows will be equipped with green hazard lights in addition to amber lights, which are already on plows. The Thruway said this will make plows more visible.
As a reminder, Thruway Authority plows drive at 35 miles per hour when treating and plowing the roads. Drivers are reminded to not crowd a plow.
Latest Local News
Jeff Preval is an award-winning anchor and reporter who joined the News 4 team in December 2021. See more of his work here.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
