Mail carriers say drivers pull out too abruptly; Customers can help ease weather problems.

Byline: Paula J. Owen

Come rain, sleet, snow and wind chills below zero, local mail carriers are conditioned to brave the elements and deliver the mail, but there are steps postal customers can take to help them out.

Worcester County carriers are facing challenging conditions this winter with record snowfall, blizzards and record-low temperatures -- even some downed mailboxes hit by plows -- but the mail is getting delivered come what may.

Westminster Postmaster Kathy J. Callahan said the high amount of snowfall in the region has made it very difficult for mail carriers to do their job, but the high, solid snow banks aren't the biggest problem.

"The biggest obstacle is people pulling out of driveways and side streets abruptly,'' she said.

"We're asking customers to exercise extreme caution when exiting driveways.''

Another issue is the frequent need to replace the chains on the tires of mail trucks this winter, she said.

"We've gone through three sets of chains per truck so far,'' she said.

"The Westminster Garage comes right out on the route and changes them.''

All of the carriers are seasoned, she said, and know how to dress properly, no matter what the weather.

"Our carriers do a remarkable job, and I think customers truly understand the gravity of the situation,'' she said.

Despite the conditions, in Westminster and other Worcester County communities, the majority of the mail is getting delivered.

In Princeton, Postmaster Teri F. Bonneville said customers with curbside boxes are reminded to clear a path leading to the box and after the box, so carriers do not have to exit their vehicles.

The USPS recommends a 30-foot clearance in each direction.

"We go above and beyond for our customers,'' she said.

"It has been brutal. Carriers are having a hard time with snow banks, narrow roads and people pulling out of driveways abruptly when they should be nosing out.''

Some customers clear only a "skinny'' path to the mailbox, she said, and carriers have to get out of the vehicle and walk down the path, though they are not required to.

"They do not have to, but they do everything they can so they don't have to bring mail back,'' she said.

"My carriers are heroes.''

Ms. Bonneville said Friday morning she had the "frostbite talk'' with carriers and reminded them to cover their faces with a scarf, pull their hats over their ears and cover up as much as possible.

Marlboro Postmaster Nicholas Tselikis said it is "never too cold'' to deliver the mail...