The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is rolling out a new safety feature aimed at reducing crashes involving highway crews during winter weather: snowplow tracking on the popular navigation app Waze.
Through a third-party integration, ODOT plow trucks now appear directly on the Waze map when their strobe lights are activated, signaling that the truck is actively engaged in snow and ice control. Drivers using the app may see a snowplow icon along their route, providing a real-time visual reminder to slow down, move over, and remain alert.
ODOT officials say the new feature is designed to improve what they call “Waze awareness,” helping motorists better anticipate the presence of large, slow-moving maintenance vehicles—especially during hazardous driving conditions.
The initiative comes amid troubling safety statistics. As of late December 2025, ODOT reported that 119 of its crews had been struck this year, including 17 snowplows hit so far during the current winter season. Officials note that the number of incidents has already surpassed totals from 2024, with crashes continuing to rise as winter weather intensifies.
“These numbers highlight a serious and ongoing safety issue,” ODOT officials said, emphasizing that many of the crashes are preventable. Drivers are reminded to follow Ohio’s Move Over law, slow down in work zones, and stay attentive—particularly during snow, ice, and reduced visibility.
By making plow trucks more visible through everyday navigation tools, ODOT hopes to reduce crashes, protect its crews, and keep Ohio’s roads safer for everyone.
