The Arizona Department of Transportation is getting its snow plow drivers ready for the coming winter season. 

Spokesman Dustin Krugel said they use high-tech simulators to put drivers through their paces.

"We put them in all kinds of different scenarios, and it's a good way to test our snow plow operators, particularly since it only snows during the winter, so this keeps their skills fresh," Krugel said.

Krugel said the more than 400 snow plow operators get year-around training to help the $250,000 machines remove tons of snow and ice from the roadways, and he urges motorists to give the snow plow drivers plenty of room on the roads.