If you’ve ever had a mailbox fall victim to a snowplow, this story is for you.

INDOT has some ideas on how to protect your mailbox during heavy winter weather events. They recommend using reflective tape to help your mailbox be seen at night. Always remove snow from the area around your mailbox, and make sure the mailbox is firmly supported in the ground and securely mounted.

It’s also recommended that you locate the mailbox on the far side of your driveway from oncoming traffic, or the left side of the driveway entrance, and make it more visible by being sure to clear the snow from the right side at the roadway.

Most mailbox damage is the result of the weight and speed of snow being cleared.