Accidents Spike Due to Hazardous Road Conditions

The heavy snow falling on Tuesday has already wreaked havoc on area roadways.

Snowfall began shortly before 7:30 a.m. as conditions rapidly deteriorated, as heavy snow caused slippery roads and limited visibility. In the opening hours of the storm, dozens of accidents were reported on county roads, with several cars sliding off the roadway. 

A large number of accidents have been reported on rural roads throughout the region. 

Public Works crews are actively plowing and sanding area roadways Tuesday morning. Police are asking motorists to limit or avoid travel over the next several hours. 

Police remain concerned about the impact of the storm on the evening commute.

Weather conditions are expected to improve in the afternoon hours, however during the evening commute and overnight hazardous driving conditions are expected to increase as melted snow refreezes.

Temperatures are expected to drop to the 20's on Wednesday.

Tips from police for driving on icy roads:

1. Decrease your speed and leave yourself plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the car in front of you.
2. Brake gently to avoid skidding. If your wheels start to lock up, ease off the brake.
3. Turn on your lights to increase your visibility to other motorists.
4.  Keep your lights and windshield clean.
5. Be especially careful on bridges, overpasses and infrequently traveled roads, which will freeze first. Even at temperatures above freezing, if the conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
6. Don't pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The drivers have limited visibility, and you're likely to find the road in front of them worse than the road behind.
7. Don't assume your vehicle can handle all conditions. Even four-wheel and front-wheel drive vehicles can encounter trouble on winter roads.