Icy road conditions cause a rise in service calls

By Jenna Wilson

While temperatures are beginning to warm up slightly after the recent snow and cold snap, bouts of freezing rain have made morning commutes slick and dangerous this week.

According to Sgt. Shane Hux with the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H, they’ve noticed an increase in service calls throughout January as the winter weather has posed challenges for drivers.

Monday night’s freezing rain added to that increase, and troopers across Missouri responded to a record number of calls for traffic accidents related to icy road conditions.

“We’ve had several snow events throughout Northwest Missouri, including freezing rain Monday night, that has made some roads dangerous to drive on,” Hux said. “(Monday), the highway patrol responded to 1,406 calls for service. Out of those calls for service, 458 of those were motor vehicle crashes. Twenty-three people were injured and unfortunately, three people lost their lives.”

Even with temperatures increasing, officials say it’s important to decrease your speed and drive with more caution as ice and snow on the roads is still melting and can pose a risk.

“The snow is going to be melting; however, it’s going to be refreezing,” Hux said. “As we get later into the evening, the temperatures will be dropping, causing those slick spots. It’s never a good time to use your cruise control in weather like this because of bridges and overpasses. You don’t know when you’re going to come up on a slick spot, so it’s best to always maintain full control of your vehicle.”

To ensure safety when driving on the roads, drivers should plan their schedules accordingly with the weather and give themselves enough time to get to their destination, always maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and if possible, it’s best to avoid driving on slick roads completely.

Hux also reminds the motoring public if they are caught in an off-road situation, remain in the vehicle while help is on the way.