Slick roads and snow leading to crash-filled drives on Sunday
Jan 1, 2023, 12:14 PM
FILE: Drivers struggle to negotiate the roads on the avenues of Salt Lake City, Tuesday morning, Dec. 13, 2022. (Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
(Scott G Winterton, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY — Slick conditions on northern Utah highways on Sunday has the Utah Highway Patrol asking drivers to slow down.
A look at the UDOT traffic map shows the number of accidents officials were dealing with by early afternoon:
The red triangles were crashes and other problems for drivers around 11 a.m.
When heavy snow is falling and you are driving, Sgt. Brian Peterson with Utah Highway Patrol asks you to:
- slow down, as speed is the number one cause of crashes when roads are slick;
- increase your following distance (it gives you more time to react to a hazard);
- put down your phone, stay alert;
- avoid cruise control;
- slow down;
- avoid sudden/hard braking;
- remember that your 4-wheel drive vehicle doesn’t have increased stopping power;
- remember that bridges and ramps often get icy first;
- buckle up;
- and slow down.
It’s very likely that you will see plows on the road, and if you do, you are asked not to crowd them. The UHP says the road is always better behind plows. Another motivating factor to not pass a snowplow? If you do, your vehicle will likely be blasted with snow, ice, and rocks.
If you crash, move to the right to get out of traffic. Stay in your car! And if there are no injuries, and you can move your car, move them off the freeway (even to the next exit is fine) and then call the police.
