CLEVELAND — The Ohio Department of Transportation is renewing its call for drivers to give snow plows and salt trucks plenty of room on the roads after a sharp rise in collisions early in the winter season.

Last winter, 54 ODOT plow trucks were struck by other vehicles statewide, more than double the previous record of 22. This year is already off to a concerning start. ODOT reports that eight of its trucks have been hit in just the last week, as winter weather begins to take hold.

One of the first crashes of the season happened in Cuyahoga County on Black Friday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported. Still, ODOT says the frequency of these collisions is alarming and preventable.

Many of the crashes are rear-end collisions, often caused by drivers following plow trucks too closely. OD

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