GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Despite living in Wisconsin, the first snowfall of the season always brings challenges for drivers.
A study from the American Journal of Public Health found the first snow of the season is significantly more dangerous for drivers in terms of fatalities, especially for elderly drivers.
Captain Jody Lemmens at the Brown County Sheriff Office says they notice an increase in crashes and cars in ditches during the first snowfall, as people forget they need to leave earlier for their commute.
“They continue to travel as they normally do, as if the roads were dry and passable, and they forget that they need to allow for extra stopping time,” says Lemmens.
Sergeant Sean Hamill with the Green Bay Police Department reminds motorists to drive slower than the speed limit when there are winter weather conditions on the roads.
When the roads are slippery, it’s going to take longer for you to stop. It’s going to take longer for you to accelerate.
Hamill says the majority of the motor vehicle accidents that occur are due to motorists following too close or driving too fast for the conditions.
Both GBPD and the Brown County Sheriff ‘s Office say one way to prevent getting into a crash is by driving slower and having patience.
Driving slow also keeps those working on the roads safe, as well. The Green Bay Public Works Department says if you see plows or salt trucks out, give them space on the roads.
“I think the biggest thing is to realize that we’re out there to provide a service. We’re there to make things safer for everybody,” says Green Bay Street Superintendent Josh Brassfield.
Many public works departments may still be picking up leaves, but Brassfield says Green Bay has been preparing for winter for the past six months.
“We got our early season salt in. We’ve made sure our brine machines are working correctly. We’ve been working on our spreaders and our plows and our wings,” says Brassfield.
When temperatures fall below the freezing mark, bridges and highway overpasses will freeze faster than roads. Make sure to practice patience when driving on winter roads, especially the first few snowfalls of the season.
FOX 11 is on Storm Watch as snow will develop around midnight Wednesday and continue until 8 or 9 a.m. Thursday morning before the precipitation turns back toward a mix and eventually rain showers. It will be windy as well, with wind gusts of 40-50 mph.
There is a Winter Weather Advisory for Thursday from 3 a.m. to 9 a.m. for most of the area. Snow could be heavy at times and accumulate 2 to 3 inches, making driving during the Thursday morning commute difficult.
There is also a Wind Advisory for much of our area Thursday from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with wind gusts up to 50 mph expected.
Drivers are encouraged to check out the 511 winter weather conditions map before they go out Thursday morning.
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