Journey discouraged as highway officers warn drivers to decelerate, give plows house

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Road situations throughout West Michigan stay harmful as blowing snow, slick pavement, and quickly altering temperatures proceed to influence journey, prompting highway officers to induce drivers to decelerate or keep off the roads altogether.

The warnings come simply days after an enormous, 100-plus automobile pileup shut down I-196, highlighting how rapidly winter driving situations can flip lethal.

According to the Kalamazoo County Road Commission, crews are prioritizing main routes, however say not all roads can be handled throughout extreme storms.

“Because of the intensity of the storm, the primary roads, the roads that are the busiest, we have focused most of our attention on,” mentioned Mark Worden, public relations director for the Kalamazoo County Road Commission. “The fastest, the higher volume roads, that’s where we’ve been and we’re going to continue to focus on until we get those to an acceptable state.”

Worden mentioned drivers shouldn’t count on again roads and lower-volume county roads to be in good condition.

“So those back roads, those county roads, these flats, they are going to be untreated,” he mentioned. “Hopefully we’re staying, keeping the speeds low, driving for conditions, don’t rush.”

Snowplows have additionally been concerned in a number of latest crashes, and Worden emphasised that drivers want to grasp how plows function and why state legislation requires motorists to remain again.

“The safest place to be is behind a plow truck, and state law is you’re supposed to stay 200 feet behind a plow truck. Don’t try and pass,” Worden mentioned.

He mentioned plow vans often cease, unfold salt or sand, and typically have to again up at intersections that are all causes drivers ought to hold their distance.

“These trucks do come to stops at intersections and they will have to back up at times,” Worden mentioned. “They have to make movements to clear the whole intersection, which means sometimes it requires backing up.”

Worden additionally warned that altering temperatures can create hazardous situations lengthy after snow stops falling.

“Later on with the thawing temperatures that we have right now, that salt is going to take effect and it’s going to make water,” he mentioned. “If that water doesn’t get off the road, it’s going to turn to ice. It’s going to be black ice, and those intersections are going to be really slick.”

In these instances, Worden mentioned crews could swap from salt to sand-salt mixtures to enhance traction, significantly at intersections, hills and curves.

When it involves driver conduct, Worden mentioned one of many greatest issues is following too carefully and failing to regulate to situations.

“So as conditions get worse, we need to increase that distance between us and the car in front of us,” he mentioned. “It’s unpredictable, especially on highway I-94, I-96, 131, notorious for those squalls that’ll come up and create whiteout conditions.”

Worden mentioned drivers ought to belief their instincts and keep away from pointless journey throughout extreme climate.

“If you’re asking the question, ‘should I be on the road?’ Don’t be,” he mentioned. “If you’re nervous about driving, you shouldn’t get behind the wheel.”

He additionally urged folks to plan forward and provides themselves further time.

“Double the time you normally would take to get someplace,” Worden mentioned. “It’s better to be late than getting into an accident.”