Crash
As summer quickly turned to winter in Denver yesterday, unprepared drivers kept Police Departments busy with more than 300 crashes as a result of the snowy weather.
Throughout the day yesterday, the Denver Police Department kept drivers updated via social media, urging everyone to slow down and drive safely.
Heading into PM rush hour, we’ve received 193 traffic crash reports since 6AM. Let’s do better this evening, #Denver. Take your time out there, allow for extra stopping distance and just drive safely — we’d hate to have to delay your trip home…😉 #CommuteResponsibly #snow pic.twitter.com/wbZMRgabDp
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) October 10, 2019
Although the storm was expected and drivers should have been prepared, as of 4 pm yesterday Denver had 193 crash reports, and Aurora 110. 96 of the crashes in Denver were reported over the morning rush hour alone.
In the past 3 hours, we’ve had 96 traffic crash reports. Rush hour is coming to a close, but the #snow is coming down and there are plenty of motorists still on the roads — keep your wits about you, #Denver. Slow going is better than no-going. #CommuteResponsibly #SafetyFirst pic.twitter.com/qpkeAfKLWr
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) October 10, 2019
The most common cause of accidents was people driving too fast for the conditions. Denver PD spent the day encouraging people to just slow down.
“Slow going is better than no-going,” the department said in a tweet.
According to a news release from AAA Colorado, the following are some tips for preparing to drive in winter-like weather:
- Slow down: Speed is the no. 1 factor in winter crashes.
- Get snow or all-season tires: Good tire tread can be the difference between sliding through an intersection and stopping when a driver intends to.
- Check tire pressure: Cold weather can cause tire pressure to decrease, making even tires with good tread unsafe to drive on.
- Don’t pump anti-lock brakes: If the brake pedal vibrates during a slick stop, it’s likely because the car has an anti-lock braking system. The car pulses the brakes itself, so it’s not necessary to manually pump the brakes.
- Get new windshield wipers: In Colorado, windshield wipers should be replaced about every six months, and wiper fluid that’s rated for low temperatures should be refilled.
Denver police also said 93 of the crashes were reported over three hours during the morning rush.
