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Updated: 2:52 AM Dec 12, 2009
Highway Havoc
Police urge drivers to slow down on Michigan's highways this winter to avoid dangerous accidents, but they say, you don't have to avoid the them altogether to stay safe.
Posted: 11:08 PM Dec 11, 2009Reporter: Jamie Edmonds Email Address: jamie.edmonds@wilx.com |
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Five years ago, heavy fog was to the blame for a 200-car pileup on I-96. Ten months ago, it seems icy conditions on I-94 led to another mutli-car pileup.
Police still don't know what caused accidents involving semi trucks that shut down local highways for three straight nights this week, but they have a pretty good idea.
"Definitely weather related, I would think," Sgt. John Faccio of the Michigan State Police said, "with all the ice and snow and standing slush we've gotten on the roadways."
Faccio said no matter the warnings, people simply do not drive for conditions.
"When you get ice people don't know it's on the road, so they drive at speeds that aren't as safe and they don't even realize they're doing it," he said.
News Ten caught up with one truck driver who would have to agree.
"Do all truckers slow down?" News Ten asked. "Oh no, a lot of them are crazy, a lot of them are crazy and drive too fast," Sejfudin Omarovic, a ten year veteran, said.
While others say the trucks are the ones playing it safe, it's the four-wheel vehicles on the road causing trouble.
"A lot of times it's the cars causing accidents," Ewald Toews, an 11 year veteran, said. "A lot of times, they'll just cut you off and they can stop quicker than we can and they don't realize that."
Regardless of blame, some say they'll just avoid the highways this winter, but Faccio said that's the wrong call.
"The freeways will be the areas the most clear from the plows," Faccio said. "That's where most of the traffic is, so they try to keep it clear."
Just slow down and give yourself more time, Faccio said.
MDOT hasn't changed its winter maintenance plan from last year -- the highways are plowed and salted first. But salt isn't as effective in these cold temperatures, so a spokesman reiterates the police recommendation that you slow down.
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