Snow and ice in New England this time of year are no surprise. These conditions can make delivering letters and packages a lot more challenging for letter carriers.

Winter walking and driving are never easy, especially when days are at their shortest, and carriers find themselves working more in the dark. The USPS is requesting residents to watch for letter carriers on foot and slow-moving postal vehicles, particularly during the winter months.

The main spots to be concerned about are houses where letter carriers, newspaper carriers, meter readers, and delivery personnel from a florist or pizza shop may come by. For safety purposes, the USPS is asking residents to clear the snow and ice from sidewalks, walkways, porches, and steps to help prevent falls.

For mailboxes at the curb, snow and ice needs to be removed regularly for safe access to the box by the carrier and uninterrupted delivery.