This past week has been a fleet manager's nightmare of historic proportions. A winter blizzard has paralyzed nearly half the nation -- from Texas to Maine -- creating whiteout conditions for motorists and pummeling roads with ice and snow. In Chicago, for example, hundreds of drivers were stranded for up to 12 hours on Lake Shore Drive.

In the wake of the storm, the Michigan State Police and Department of Transportation have issued the following tips for motorists. You may want to pass this list along to your drivers as a friendly reminder.

• If you must travel, carry an emergency supply kit in your vehicle with essential items and let someone know your destination, your route and when you expect to arrive.

• Check road conditions before traveling.

• Always wear your safety belt and allow extra time to reach your destination.

• To remain focused on driving, don't text or talk on cell phones while you are driving.

• Keep in mind that snowplows have limited visibility and drivers cannot see behind their trucks. Snowplows often throw up snow clouds, reducing visibility on all sides of the truck.

• Never attempt to pass a moving snowplow on the right. With new wing-plow technology, the blade can clear the shoulder and the lane of travel simultaneously. Motorists attempting an illegal pass through a snow cloud on the right and/or shoulder of the road most likely won't see the plow blade and run the risk of a serious crash.

• Provide first responders with ample space by moving over one lane, if possible.