Question for Washoe County highway commission or Nevada DOT?
Just about every day I drive through Washoe Valley to go to work and then return home. This winter I’ve seen some really stupid drivers…something just occurred to me and I have a question….I’m not sure who takes care of 395, but perhaps somebody could pose this question and get an answer?
Q. Why aren’t ‘snow fences’ put into place along side the highway where there have been multiple accidents due to ‘blowing snow’? Sure, the fences won’t stop everything, but they might help a little…
Here’s a video I found to illustrate my point…blowing snow…snow fences would help.
in case you don’t know what a snow fence is…they come in all kinds of shapes and sizes…from wood slats to plastic mesh to trees and shrubs…here’s a government page on snow management using vegetation:
http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/TECHNICAL/ECS/forest/wind/snow.pdf
I drive 395 between Reno and Carson City frequently. Most accidents on that stretch of highway are caused by drivers going too fast for conditions.
Snow fences won’t stop the wind, and there are already less risky alternate routes available for trucks, RVs and campers when the winds get to the point of being unsafe… That’s what the big signs at the North and South ends of the valley are for.
If a driver ignores the signs, and runs the highway when trucks and RVs are prohibited, then they get what they deserve.