APPLETON (NBC 26) — Dangerous weather conditions have caused massive pileups in recent weeks. In Virginia, a series of crashes on Monday evening left some drivers stranded in their cars overnight. Here in Wisconsin, snowy conditions caused another pileup on I-94 in Jackson County just two weeks ago.
- Motorists in Northern Virginia stranded for hours, forced to sleep on I-95 due to wintry weather
- No serious injuries reported after slick roads cause massive pileup in Jackson County
Appleton police say that when officers encounter people in car crashes in the winter, they’re often unprepared for the weather.
“We typically see an increase in crashes that occur in the winter time," said Meghan Cash, the public information officer for the Appleton Police Department. "The road conditions change sometimes so quickly from morning to night that oftentimes the roads can just get slippery between that morning commute to the evening.”
Since conditions can be unpredictable in the winter, there are a few things that officers advise drivers to keep in their car in case of an accident. The first is warm clothing so that you can stay warm if you find yourself stranded in your car.
“Oftentimes when we do encounter people in crashes, they think they’re just running to the store quick and they’re not going to bring all the winter gear that they need," Cash said. "Bring a coat, bring mittens, hats, boots, have an extra set of those things in your vehicle so you’re prepared if something were to happen.”
Other items include jumper cables and flashlights so that another car can help you if your car battery dies. Even if you're just running out for a quick errand, Cash suggests always having a full tank of gas. You'll also want to have a fully charged phone. Cash says it's always a good idea to keep extra charging cables in your car so that you're able to call for help.
“Call for help first if you have the ability to do that," Cash said. "Especially on the highway if you can safely stay in your vehicle, you feel like you’re far enough and there’s nothing wrong with your vehicle, we want you to stay warm and comfortable so we know where you are.”
If you’re in a crash and staying in your car isn’t an option, police advise seeking shelter in a nearby business if possible and to avoid standing on the side of the highway.
“Try to avoid going into traffic or standing up on the side of the road. If conditions were bad enough that you ended up in the ditch, likely somebody else could end up there,” Cash said.
Since many crashes in the winter are caused by speeding, Cash says heading out early and watching your speed is the best way to stay safe in bad weather conditions.
“Slow down, plan your trip wherever it is you’re going with some extra time," Cash said. "In the wintertime, we never know when that little patch of ice is going be on the road way ahead.”
