By WHITNEE ICE
St. Joseph Post
Motorists need to use precaution today, due to the winter weather advisory.
Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H spokesman Jake Angle says to slow down because roads are slick in some areas.
“Further north, I know they are getting some snow and its affecting road conditions. They’re working some slide offs and some stranded motorists but that’s really what’s going on right now as far as the weather goes,” Angle tells St. Joseph Post.
Angle says motorists should be cautious when on the roads.
“The number one thing we see out there is speed,” Angle says. “People are going way too fast for the road conditions. When that snow starts falling, the temperatures drop, we start accumulating ice and snow on the roadway. People have to slow down, they need to slow down. Almost every slide-off or traffic crash in inclement weather, especially during winter weather, you can almost always attribute it to speed.”
Angle says motorists need to take into account the weather when driving.
“We just really encourage people to slow down plan extra time in their trip,” Angle says. “Increase the following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. That way if something does happen to them in front of you, you have time to react. Just those little things like that sometimes can make a really big difference. Can make the difference between maybe sliding off the road or being involved in a traffic crash.”
Angle says Troop H will be keeping a close eye on the weather throughout the day.
“Got all available manpower out there right now on the roads assisting the public working traffic crashes, assisting people that slide off the roadways. We are just going to watch the weather and continue to do what we do day in and day out. Serve the public out here on the roadway.”