Losquadro offers road tips for winter

Brookhaven Town Highway Superintendent Daniel P. Losquadro has prepared some road-related tips to assist motorists and residents as we enter the winter of 2020.

During any given storm, Superintendent Losquadro manages a minimum of 250 pieces of Town-owned equipment out on the roads; during a larger snow event, that number can expand to over 800 pieces of equipment including those driven by hired contractors.

“First and foremost, although it may seem obvious, do not travel if a state of emergency is declared,” Losquadro said. In any storm, the fewer people on the roads, the easier it is for plows to get through and clear the roads. In addition, people traveling in severe storms can become easily stranded in their vehicles. “It bears repeating – please stay off the roads during a snow storm. If you are experiencing a true emergency, call 911 and let help come to you.”

Second, “Park cars in the driveway and off the street before a storm,” Losquadro said, noting that simple step will allow plows to push the snow back to the curb line, making the road much wider and safer for travel. Keeping cars out of the street also benefits residents digging out after a storm. “It’s much easier to dig out a vehicle that only has freshly fallen snow on it, as opposed to snow that has been compacted by a plow,” he said.

Another tip that makes digging out after a storm a little easier involves how residents shovel. “While shoveling the driveway, never throw snow to the left, facing toward the street; instead throw it to the right and then clear out about 10 to 20 feet along the curb line, to the left of your driveway,” Losquadro said. “This will give an area for snow to accumulate when it comes off the plow blade. If you throw the snow to the left, that snow that you just threw out into the street or piled up next to your driveway is going to get pushed back in by the plow.”