At the time of this post, 29 people have already died as a result of accidents caused by icy roads during a winter that has not yet even begun. The tally for last winter was 477, with Michigan tying for fourth place with Illinois and Pennsylvania, all at 29 fatalities. The worst state for ice-related traffic deaths was Indiana at 50 fatalities.
Not surprisingly, the northern states, particularly the Great Lakes states, are the top offenders. But nowhere in our country is exempt. Last winter’s ice-related death toll for Texas was 19; for Oklahoma, 16; for Arkansas, 13. This year so far, Oregon holds an unenviable first place at six fatalities. And so it goes. The point is, icy roads kill no matter where you are.
They kill because no one expects them to. When we head out the door into a freezing drizzle, the word that comes to mind is “annoying,” not “lethal.” Most of us don’t picture such conditions as something that, ten minutes later, will cause us to spin out on a sheet of black ice and go skidding in front of a tanker on the Interstate. But that’s exactly what will happen this winter to people just like you and me.
Storm chaser Dan Robinson is doing all he can to reduce the number of ice-related road fatalities by heightening public awareness. I pulled all of the above statistics from his superbly crafted and highly informative Icy Road Safety website. You’ll find much more there besides what I’ve shared: icy road warning signs, winter driving tips, and some downright scary videos.
Living in Michigan, I’m more alert to the lethality of slippery roads than someone living in, say, South Carolina. But being alert by no means makes me bulletproof; it just gives me an advantage over someone who isn’t regularly exposed to hazardous winter driving conditions. Dan’s website goes a long way to fill in the knowledge gaps and help us all approach icy roads with the caution they deserve.
I urge you to visit Dan’s site. It’s well written and beautifully executed, and it merits attention. Read through it, equip yourself with its potentially life-saving information, and then send the link to family members and friends. Help spread the word: ice kills, but it doesn’t have to.
