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Politics & Government

Drivers Urged to Travel with Caution As Winter Storm Approaches

Safety officials advise extra caution on the roads from now through the holidays.

As Christmas and New Year's approach public safety officials are advising Clayton and Richmond Heights drivers to take caution on the roads.

"The holidays seem to get everyone into a panic, or they drink and then get behind the wheel," said Sgt. Al Nothum of the Missouri State Highway Patrol. "You add possible bad weather and people rushing, and bad things will happen."

AAA estimated that approximately 38 million people traveled on highways during the 2009 holiday season, an increase over figures from 2008. Even more people are expected to travel during the holidays in 2010.

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"The best advice, which many people don't seem to listen to, is to allot enough time to get where you need to go," Nothum said. "If you're going to Grandma's house or your friend Betsy's, and it take three hours to get there, allow four or even five hours. This ensures that you do not need to rush."

A heavier-than-normal traffic load on the roads likely will contribute to motorists driving more aggressively and taking more risks, said Linda Wilson, community relations manager for the Missouri Department of Transportation.

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"There are enough distractions on the road that people need to watch for," Wilson said. "People need to pay attention to road and weather conditions. They should put the cell phones down and not text while driving."

Wilson said that traffic can be unexpected especially in the Richmond Heights and Clayton area. "With the Galleria, along Eager Road, and all the shopping that takes place in those areas, there (is) just a lot of extra traffic happening, and that can make things more chaotic and dangerous," she said.

Winter weather also can pose hazards. It can cause black ice on the roads and poor driving conditions, making travel even more of a challenge for motorists.

"Whenever we get reports from the National Weather Service or local television stations with predictions of inclement weather, we put our road crews on stand-by," said Bruce Murray, public works director for Richmond Heights. In inclement weather, crews work around the clock in shifts of about 12 hours to make sure roads are clear and safe.

"We have 150 tons of salt that we keep at our public works department," Murray said.

Richmond Heights typically uses anywhere from 300 tons to 400 tons of salt during the winter season, depending on the severity and number of storms that come through the region, according to a report by the public works department.

People who choose to travel should be cautious. As rain falls and temperatures drop, sheets of ice can form. Motorists just need to maintain safe speeds and be careful, Murray said.

"If they see a snow plow, stay a safe distance back, don't try to speed around them," he said. "Just be safe."

Clayton prepares early for winter weather, stated Public Works Superintendent Gary Scheipeter in an e-mail. The public works department performs maintenance on snow-removal equipment and installs abrasive spreaders on it.

"Crews have been briefed on routes, procedures and on changes in techniques," Scheipeter stated. The public works crew has taken part in classes sponsored by the state of Missouri that include information about remaining safe while removing snow and ice.

Wilson said MoDOT will do its part to keep highways and ramps clear in the event of ice or snow storms. MoDOT's first priority in inclement weather is to clear roadways with the highest traffic volume first, according to its Web site. Those roadways include all interstates and any other major routes. The heaviest-traveled sections of state-numbered or -lettered routes such as Route 61 and Route 340 are tackled next. Finally, lower-volume routes are cleared of loose snow to make two-way possible traffic. MoDOT also treats hills, curves and intersections.

While it's challenging to determine what weather the holidays will bring, a few observations can be made, said Ben Sipprell, a meteorologist for the Weather Service in St. Louis.

"It's hard to predict what the weather will be like during the holidays since it's so far out," Sipprell said. "However, based on seasonal projections, we do see a weather system that could bring a mix of precipitation."

The Weather Service has been tracking what's known as a La Nina situation and is predicting both temperatures and precipitation that are above normal for the forecast region.  

"However, even though the climate predictions feel that there is a higher probability for above-normal precipitation and temperatures, (that) does not rule out that there could still be a lower-than-normal or near-normal winter in terms of temperature," Sipprell said.

Officials with MoDOT, the Highway Patrol, the Weather Service and Richmond Heights public works agreed that the best way to stay safe while traveling is to be prepared.

There are several ways that drivers in Clayton and Richmond Heights can take caution:

  • Be aware of conditions on and off the road.
  • Allow enough time for travel.
  • Don't drink and drive.
  • Don't use cell phones while operating a vehicle. If a call must be made, pull over.
  • Watch for black ice and falling temperatures.
  • Keep a safe distance from road crews, and don't try to speed around them.
  • Buckle up.
  • If weather gets bad, try to avoid traveling in it. Wait for it to clear.
  • Slow down before stopping. Braking takes longer on slippery roads.

"We want to people to be safe," Nothum said. "There's no reason to rush and become aggressive. The more people pay attention to the rules and safety guidelines, the more people will arrive alive."

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