INDOT reminds public to reinforce mailboxes before winter weather arrives

The Indiana Department of Transportation is urging residents along state roads and U.S. highways to prepare their mailboxes prior to the start of winter weather.

Snow and ice removal is INDOT’s top priority during winter months. While the agency’s yellow plow trucks generally travel slower than the posted speed limit and drivers are careful to avoid mailboxes, the weight of snow thrown from plows can cause damage to mailboxes that are not properly secured or have weak supports.

Property owners are responsible for installing and maintaining mailboxes on state right of way. To mitigate possible damage, INDOT recommends placing a mailbox as far from the edge of the roadway as a mail carrier can reach.

By placing a mailbox as far from the edge of the roadway as a mail carrier can reach and mounting the mailbox on a sturdy support, it should withstand the force of snow thrown from a plow.

Clearing snow from the access area near a mailbox can ensure safer delivery of mail and reduce the amount of snow coming off a plow.

Below are tips to help reduce the risk of mailbox damage:

• Place a six-to-eight-inch piece of reflective tape on the mailbox to help it be seen at night.

• Remove snow from around your mailbox, but avoid throwing snow back onto the roadway.

• Inspect your mailbox. Make sure it is firmly supported in the ground and make sure it is securely mounted to the post. Check for deteriorated/rusted posts and/or mounts.

• Avoid plastic mailboxes if possible. Some tend to shatter in cold temperatures.

• If your mailbox is continually damaged or knocked down, consider changing the location, even if just by a few feet.

Stay Informed

Get updates on INDOT projects and programs via:

• Facebook: facebook.com/indianadepartmentoftransportation

• Twitter: @INDOT

• CARS 511: indot.carsprogram.org

• Mobile App: iTunes App Store and the Google Play store for Android

About the Indiana Department of Transportation

Over the past 100 years, INDOT has transformed the state of Indiana into the Crossroads of America we know today. With six district offices and 3,500 employees, the agency is responsible for constructing and maintaining more than 29,000 lane miles of highways, more than 5,700 bridges, and supporting 4,500 rail miles and 117 airports across the state. Indiana once again ranked #1 in the U.S. for infrastructure in CNBC’s 2019 “America’s Top States for Business” ranking. Learn more about INDOT at in.gov/indot.

About the Indiana Hands-Free Law

On July 1, 2020, Governor Eric J. Holcomb signed the Indiana Hands-Free Law to reduce distracted driving across the state. Since then, drivers have been prohibited from holding a mobile device while their vehicles are in motion. With help from the Indiana State Police and other law enforcement agencies, over 5,400 citations and more than 10,500 warnings have been issued. For more information on Indiana’s Hands-Free Law, visit www.HandsFreeIndiana.com.