Emergency officials across Iowa
say that recent winter weather has led to a dramatic spike in traffic accidents and injuries, resulting in safety officials warning
drivers to slow down and take special precautions when venturing out on snowy
or icy roads.
Reports from the Iowa State
Patrol reveal that there were 24 snow-related accidents in Iowa City over the
weekend. Dangerous road conditions were responsible for a crash on I-80 that
began when a tractor-trailer lost control and hit an Iowa State Patrol car, a
tow truck and a Jeep before finally coming to a rest in the ditch. The accident
left the police officer and the driver of the Jeep hospitalized with serious
injuries.
Here in Des Moines, a section of
I-80 was closed for more than an hour over the weekend following a 20-car pileup
that authorities believe was related to winter weather. Unlike the deadly
25-car pileup that occurred around this same time last year, no fatalities were
reported in the recent chain reaction crash.
Weather forecaster say that most
of the state saw at least two inches of snow, even more here in Des Moines,
though the snow was not what led to the most danger for motorists. Instead,
meteorologists say that it was the frequent thawing and freezing of the snowy
roads that created the unsafe road conditions. This melting created pockets of
ice where drivers easily lost traction, leading to dozens of accidents across
the state.
Officials in Iowa said that
drivers need to adjust to winter driving routines which include changes in the
way that motorists operate vehicles. Though ice may not be unusual in the
winter for this part of the country, it still presents serious dangers to even
experienced drivers. That’s because icy roads make it difficult to maintain
traction, resulting in a loss of control and ultimately in car accidents.
Experts say that during the
winter months, drivers need to remember that speed limits should be seen only
as representing what’s possible under the best conditions. Slowing down when
roads are slick is one of the most important things drivers can do to increase
their safety. Slowing down reduces the risk that your car will skid and drift
out of control. Drivers also need to avoid tailgating, as the distance required
to stop will increase dramatically on snowy or icy roads. Finally, keep your
lights on and windshields clean, something that will ensure you maintain good
visibility, a leading cause of many Iowa car accidents.
If you or someone you know has
been injured in an Iowa car, truck, bus or motorcycle accident and you would
like to discuss your case with an attorney, please contact the Iowa car accident lawyers at the Gourley,
Rehkemper & Lindholm PLC
today at (888) 278-1027 to schedule a free consultation.
Source:
“Officials
kept busy responding to dozens of accidents,” by Aly Brown,
published at Press-Citizen.com.
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