Officials from the Indiana Department of Transportation are urging residents to take measures to protect mailboxes prior to the start of winter weather.
INDOT plows will be hitting state roads soon and it is the agency’s top priority to keep roads clear of snow and ice for safe travel. Snow plows typically travel well below the posted speed limit in the winter, but the weight of snow thrown from plows can cause damage to mailboxes that are not properly secured or have weak supports.
According to INDOT, property owners are responsible for maintaining mailboxes on the state’s right-of-way. If placed as far from the edge of the roadway as a mail carrier can reach, it is likely to withstand the force of snow thrown from a plow. Clearing snow from the access area can ensure safer delivery of mail and reduce the force of snow coming off the plow.
