ROANOKE, Va. ( WFXR ) – The Virginia State Police have reported 64 crashes in the Southwest and Central Virginia region related to the winter storm that began on Sunday, January 5.
From 4 a.m. until 11 a.m. on Monday, crashes occurred in the following locations:
- Appomattox – VSP – responded to 22 crashes, one with reported injuries
- Wytheville – VSP responded to 11 crashes, no reported injuries
- Salem – VSP responded to 31 crashes, four with reported injuries
VSP is advising residents to avoid travel during the storm, however, those who do have to travel should consider the following:
- Use headlights. Increasing your visibility helps you to avoid slick and dangerous spots on the road, as well as helping other drivers see you better.
- Slow your speed. Though state police work closely with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to identify problem areas on Virginia’s highways during a winter storm, drivers still must drive for conditions. Slowing your speed gives you more time to safely react and avoid a crash. Drive your vehicle based on your ability to properly maintain control of your vehicle.
- Don’t tailgate. You need to increase the stopping distance on slick road surfaces. Give yourself more space between vehicles traveling ahead of you to avoid rear-end collisions.
- Buckle Up. Most crashes that occur during winter weather are caused by vehicles sliding into guardrails, off the road or other vehicles. Wearing your seat belt protects you from being thrown around the inside of your vehicle and suffering serious injury in a crash.
- Check Your Vehicle. Make sure your vehicle is in good working order for the conditions. Fill up the tank in advance. Check windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, tire tread, battery life, etc.
- Don’t leave home without a window scraper, blanket, bottled water, snack, cell phone charger and flashlight.