Snow Fences to Improve Winter Road Safety

In Iowa, plastic snow fences are often strategically placed in yards and alongside roads. This video shows several examples of these fences, how their design can reduce snow accumulations and drifts across across roadways and improving the overall road conditions.

Video

Aplington

Iowa Core Standard

3-ESS3-1

Make a claim about the merit of a design solution that reduces the impacts of a weather-related hazard.

Driving Question

How can we make roads safer during Iowa winters?

Probing Questions

How are snowstorms hazardous?
What effect do snowstorms have on your life?

Classroom Suggestions

Students could:

Research different natural hazards.
Describe how natural hazards impact students' lives.
Incorporate how school or road closures can be avoided by using snow fences into their arguments.

Resources

Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) | Snow Fence Information: The Iowa DOT explains the benefits of snow fencing.
Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) | Iowa 511 Road Conditions: View current road conditions across Iowa using this interactive map.
Des Moines Public Schools | A History Of Weather-related Closings: A year-by-year account of school closings or delays in the Des Moines Public School system.

Contributors

Submitted by Josie Libby.