Winter comes earlier to Maine than it does to other parts of the country. By December, snow is often present on roads and sidewalks throughout Greater Bangor. As temperatures drop, melting snow turns into ice.

Every year, United States Postal Service employees throughout Maine experience accidents related to winter weather conditions. When walking and driving conditions are icy, drivers and pedestrians are at risk. Poor visibility resulting from daylight ending earlier and from winter precipitation also leads to accidents.

Officials from the Postal Service ask everyone for their help in order to provide the best possible service. Although Maine’s letter carriers are accustomed to winter weather, they still need the public’s cooperation to help reduce the risk of accidents.

The Postal Service asks that residents keep steps and walkways clear of snow and ice. Approaches to curbside mailboxes need to be clear of snow, ice and obstructions, such as trash bins, so that carriers may safely approach and pull away from mailboxes without having to leave or back up postal vehicles. These simple steps allow safe and efficient mail delivery.

Many letter carriers on foot and in vehicles find themselves delivering mail in the dark. Rural letter carriers drive their own vehicles and make frequent stops at curbside mailboxes.

Although rural carriers’ cars often have orange roof signs identifying them as mail delivery vehicles, some drivers don’t recognize them as such, increasing the risk of accidents. The Postal Service asks that drivers be aware of letter carriers delivering after sunset.

Letter carriers on foot are at higher risk of accident or injury when delivering in the dark, in part because it is harder for them to see walking conditions underfoot and in part because it is harder for drivers to see them. The risks for all letter carriers delivering in the dark are compounded when winter precipitation is falling, reducing the limited visibility even further.

Letter carriers in Maine drive more than 33,000 square miles to bring service to their customers, and they pride themselves on driving safely. They are trained to slow down when driving in winter and to reduce speed as road conditions worsen. The Postal Service urges motorists in Maine to do the same to reduce the risk of vehicle collisions.

Identifying hazards posed by winter weather helps not only letter carriers to be safe, but also those who retrieve mail from the mailbox, and friends and family members who walk on one’s property when they come to visit. The Postal Service appreciates cooperation in helping to keep the state’s letter carriers – and all Maine residents – safe from harm this winter.