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Wednesday's snow a wake-up call for drivers

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By HILARY KINDSCHUH / Lincoln Journal Star

Wednesday, Dec 03, 2008 - 03:02:57 pm CST

The first measurable snow of the season may not have have been much, but it was enough to send a number of drivers sliding across the roads Wednesday morning.

Lincoln had received 0.4 inches of snowfall by 1 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.

Between 5:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Lincoln Police had responded to 84 traffic accidents, said Officer Katie Flood. To compare, police responded to 30 total accidents on Tuesday and 26 on Monday.

Story Photo
Emergency responders work the scene of an accident in the 300 hundred block of south 48th Street Wednesday morning. (Eric Gregory / Lincoln Journal Star)

Related Link(s):


Ice slows morning traffic
Forecast

It looks like Lincoln will have to wait a while for the next snowfall.

The probability for hazardous weather over the next few days is low, according to the National Weather Service. Today's forecast is partly sunny, with a high near 30, and Friday is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high near 39.

Saturday -- the day for the annual Star City Holiday Parade -- is expected to be mostly sunny, with a high of 37.

There is a slight chance of rain, snow and sleet Sunday night and into Monday.



Power outages

About 2,400 Lincoln Electric System customers in southeast Lincoln lost power early Wednesday morning due to a problem with an underground cable.

LES spokesman Russ Reno said the utility didn’t have a report on what caused the outage but it wasn’t because of the ice that coated power lines and streets.

The electricity went out at 5:16 a.m. and was restored by 6:30 a.m., Reno said.

Two areas were affected by the outage: 68th Street to 84th Street and Glynoaks Drive to Nebraska 2; 59th Street to 79th Street and Pioneers Boulevard to Old Cheney Road.

The Lancaster County Sheriff’s office responded to 15 traffic-related calls between 6 and 9 a.m., said Sgt. Andy Stebbing.

The most serious call was an accident at 5:38 a.m., when a driver suffered a broken arm after hitting the guard rail on Interstate 80 by mile marker 409, Stebbing said. Otherwise, it was mostly fender benders or cars in the ditch.

Even though the roads were slick, Stebbing said speed was the main reason cars slid off the road.

“Cars don’t go into the ditch at 25 or 35 mph,” he said. “People go into the ditch driving along the interstate at 80 mph.

“It takes a snow or two to remind them to slow down for the next six months.”

Even though the city has been laying down a salt-water mixture on its roads every week for the last month, the mixture had mostly washed away by the time the snow fell Wednesday morning, said Roger Tiedeman, west district manager with Lincoln Public Works.

The city normally lays down the mixture, which acts as an anti-ice agent, on arterial streets and bridges each Wednesday and Thursday.

However, the city didn’t apply the solution last Thursday because of Thanksgiving, Tiedeman said. And although the city did lay down the mixture over bridges on Tuesday, rain and snow flurries over the weekend had washed the solution off of the the arterial streets.

Reach Hilary Kindschuh at 473-7120 or hkindschuh@journalstar.com.


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-chet wrote on December 3, 2008 2:26 pm:
" .4" of snow and 84 reported accidents.

I can't say I disagree with Sgt. Stebbing's advice. Shall we continue to blame everyone but ourselves for this behavior? "

 Cautious Driver wrote on December 3, 2008 2:26 pm:
" I hate to disagree with Mr. Stebbing, but I have gone into the ditch driving 25 MPH. The road conditions were worse than we saw this morning, but that statement should have been made a little more clear. It is possible to be a good driver and still have bad things happen!! "

 Nina wrote on December 3, 2008 2:27 pm:
" This morning between Syracuse and Bennet on Hwy 2, there were five vehicles in the ditches, including one overturned semi, which required a rescue squad to arrive. So the ice was widespread, it seems. "

 Remember New Years wrote on December 3, 2008 2:29 pm:
" Remember the event that drove a stake through the heart of Seng's tenure as Mayor, the New Years Eve blizzard and the lame efforts to clear the streets, especially the side streets. Ice ruts for days and days and days. It cemented her in many voters' minds as being incompetent. You can be sure that Beutler remembers what took Seng down, and lives in terror of a similar botched winter storm response. "

 mitchy_v wrote on December 3, 2008 2:34 pm:
" Yes, go slower, but don't drive 35mph on the interstate. If you feel you need to go that slow, get off. Going too slow is just a big of a problem as speeding. "

 Stebbing is wrong on this one wrote on December 3, 2008 2:35 pm:
" To state that speed is mostly a factor in cars going into the ditch, I would beg to differ. Ice is ice and where ice is, you increase your chance of going into the ditch. 148th Street is a prime example of the lack of quality care the county gives to a widely used road and I see cars go into the ditch all the time at a slow rate of speed. I'm sure speed does play a factor on the interstate more, but in town and on widely used roads, it is what it is. I always use caution, but caution doesn't always prevent a trip into the ditch. Shame on him for that ridiculous comment. "

 disagree wrote on December 3, 2008 2:38 pm:
" “Cars don’t go into the ditch at 25 or 35 mph,” he said. “People go into the ditch driving along the interstate at 80 mph.

You weren't out this morning on the highway then!!! "

 visitor wrote on December 3, 2008 2:48 pm:
" I've lived in Linclon for 37 years and today was one of the worst and longest commutes for me ever. No salt, no gravel, sheer ice on major aterials. The city needs a better plan for deicing the streets, especially south of highway 2. "

 Sue Eckley wrote on December 3, 2008 2:49 pm:
" Sgt. Stebbing hss worked more accidents than any of you ever would encounter. I was driving north on 148th street this morning. I pick up came barreling down on me (I was going 40) and there were many cars ahead of me - 4 that I could count going the same speed. Mr. Hot Shot pickup driver was swerving all over the place. Yes - speed IS a factor when the roads are this way. Following too close is the second factor.

Face it, those of you who don't want to drive within conditions are the most dangerous.

LPD and LSO just have to pick up the aftermath of those of you too important enough to drive the road conditions and your own skills - or lack thereof! "

 Nikki wrote on December 3, 2008 2:50 pm:
" The point of the story, in my mind, is that although the amount of snow we received was small, it was ice by morning commute and the roads were not properly prepared. Not, if you drive slow and end up in the ditch you are a bad driver. Let's stick to the real issue here people! "

 Tonyo wrote on December 3, 2008 2:51 pm:
" DEE DEE DEE Learn how to drive. You did it last year didn't you?
All I can say to end this is Husker Fans still can't drive. "

 Ridiculous wrote on December 3, 2008 2:52 pm:
" Wow! You'd think we lived in some state like NM that doesn't get ice and snow EVERY YEAR. This should be no surprise people. Slow down! "

 Not surprised wrote on December 3, 2008 2:59 pm:
" It probably doesn't help that Lincoln has the worst driver's in America. My place of work overlooks 56th & O and we literally play a game each day to see how many people try and turn south off of 56th street while going west on O, although it clearly states there are NO LEFT TURNS. Getting rear ended like it's nothing going through downtown at 5 o'clock... it's pathetic. Lincoln needs to have people take a driver's test every other year. "

 Ignignokt wrote on December 3, 2008 3:11 pm:
" I know I can't be the only one that noticed this...

"Even though the city has been laying down a salt-water mixture on its roads every week for the last month, the mixture had mostly washed away by the time the snow fell Wednesday morning, said Roger Tiedeman, west district manager with Lincoln Public Works."

Money down the drain...literally. And since we now know that the stuff is basically ineffective because the weather is unpredictable...can we stop putting this stuff down before a flake of snow is even in the forecast? Or better yet...save the time and money to get sand/salt/gravel trucks out on the roads and taking care of the problem in a way that we all KNOW works! "

 The SNOW wasnt a problem wrote on December 3, 2008 3:15 pm:
" The SNOW wasn't a problem it was the ice, very patchy and invisible. My a.m. commute was one of the more treacherous I've had in the past few years. I was driving 25 miles an hour and nearly went into the ditch twice. So, some of you ought to take a drive out in the unsalted country before you assume drivers are a lot of speeding idiots. "

 NS wrote on December 3, 2008 3:37 pm:
" I agree with Ignignokt, what is the point of the solution if it just washes away? Why spend the money on it? Just exactly when does it have to be applied to be effective, right before the first flake falls? Just save the money and use a little gravel, it would have helped tremendously this morning. "

 dave wrote on December 3, 2008 3:50 pm:
" 5 cents a gallon for salt mixure that seems to be doin what??? "

 Cant sidestep this one... wrote on December 3, 2008 4:06 pm:
" I was shocked when I came over the Rosa Parks by-pass, which was in good shape, and entered downtown Lincoln and it was one giant skating rink. Not a single intersection graveled until I was heading east on 18th & Vine and there it was - gravel on the east side of the 2-lane intersection heading east of all things - where no one has to apply brakes. Come on city workers - I know your job is tough but simple logic would have shown that gravel needs to be placed where tires will need the traction - on the braking side of the intersection, not the opposite side. I would step out on the limb and say that gravel would have probably cut down the accidents by quite a few. "

 Mike in Lincoln wrote on December 3, 2008 4:07 pm:
" I agree with the Sheriff's Sgt. Police will have a fraction of the weather related traffic incidents at the 3rd, 4th and 5th ice and snow storms. We always retrain ourselves to drive slow and cautious through winter months, it takes a couple of ice and snow storms to remind us to slow down. "

 Firth commuter wrote on December 3, 2008 4:10 pm:
" If you slide into the ditch on ice at 25 to 35 mph, then you need driving lessons. "

 Nate wrote on December 3, 2008 4:12 pm:
" I agree that most people are idiots when it comes to driving on ice... but Vine between 33rd and 48th was absolutely atrocious this morning. Cars were stopped in the eastbound lane just trying to pull themselves up the hill at the entrance to Wyuka. And this was at 8:00... the city couldn't have gotten salt or sand down by then? "

 Jen wrote on December 3, 2008 4:13 pm:
" Thousands of cars driving, and 100 to 200 problems. I think that would suggest driving errors, otherwise if ice caused it, there would have been thousands of cars in the ditches. "

 Ummm wrote on December 3, 2008 4:17 pm:
" You blame that the ice was invisible... that's no one's problem but YOURS. If you haven't heard of "black ice" or cannot negotiate your own driving in conditions you "think" are ok, but the cars on the sides of the roads prove otherwise, you deserve to be in the ditch too! If there is .1 inches or 10 feet, it's still dangerous, and YOU are the one who should be responsible... I like that some people are actually BLAMING THE ELEMENTS!!! lol That damn ice... I'll get it next time! grrrrr! "

 Seriously wrote on December 3, 2008 4:17 pm:
" This morning Capital Parkway was ice from curb to curb all the way west, until 17th St. Then the pavement improved. My friend that arrived at work by 6:30am, had no problem. So, what happened to make the streets solid ice? "

 Dwight Mantels wrote on December 3, 2008 4:23 pm:
" I agree with Sue. I was driving from Wahoo. I was taking it easy, driving 35 to 45 South on 77. The cars that past me going 65 were practically going sideways. One white blaser went past speeding, and sure enough, it was in the ditch closer to Lincoln. Speeding on ice equals trouble. "

 Nikki is wrong wrote on December 3, 2008 4:25 pm:
" Hey Nikki, you're wrong about the story being ONLY about the city not having the roads prepared. The first half of the story is completely focused on accidents and the fact that Stebbing says it's driver's fault for driving too fast. Why don't you read the story again and then tells us how stupid you are!! "

 Nebraskan.... wrote on December 3, 2008 4:31 pm:
" Every year this story always amazes me. Seriously, are these people all from Arizona? It's just Nebraska common sense to slow down and proceed with caution, no matter how much snow fell!! "

 Katy wrote on December 3, 2008 4:31 pm:
" This was the worst ice and traffic congestion I've seen in 2-3 years! It was especially bad *around the schools*, on hills where cars couldn't make it up the hill, and on 40th Street between Highway 2 and Normal Blvd. I heard it was bad all over. Then there are ridiculous drivers who just stop where they're at because they're scared to go any further. I got stuck behind two of those this morning. I say the city road crews really messed up today! "

 Please wrote on December 3, 2008 4:47 pm:
" The ice was horrible. I don't care how fast you drive, it was a hazard. Save the excuses, public works, because you know what they are like... "

 Mr. Seward wrote on December 3, 2008 4:48 pm:
" I had to make several deliveries near the air port and Waverly. I took the interstate several times between 6 am and 9 am. I about lost control a couple of times, but then the Highway Patrol began driving in front of us and forced us to drive 45 by taking up both lanes. Although I was frustrated, i realized this slowed everyone down to a safe speed and I never lost traction at that speed on the ice. "

 Craig Lincoln wrote on December 3, 2008 5:11 pm:
" What do you people who complain about the weather and road conditions want? Just like the instant gratification world we live in, seems the fact that we all live in NEBRASKA, where it GETS COLD, and IT SNOWS, and THERE IS ICE, you want streets and highways INSTANTLY CLEARED! That ain't gonna happen. There are a lot of streets to clear. If you're so concerned about the road conditions, then get out there and melt the snow or ice with the hot air you're spewing. It will do us all good, and you won't be such jerks. Nice job to the street crews for doing all they do. "

 mike H Lincoln wrote on December 3, 2008 5:18 pm:
" instead of looking into and trying all these different methods that have been tried and failed the last few years like the pre treating and adding the liquid tanks to trucks and spray the sand/salt as they spread it all have failed Am i the only one who thinks it is past time to replace the street superintendent maybe this is the key to it all instead of wasting ten of thousands of dollars on gimmicks that do not seem to be working please can we have a new street superintendent instead of a tax hike to sand roads "

 How about wrote on December 3, 2008 5:21 pm:
" How about a manager who insisted that even though the State Patrol closed the highways last winter to "just drive slow and take it easy" and still come to work? How about all the idiots who are careening towards you? No matter how slow and easy you're going, they is always the chance you'll encounter an idiot. But unlike Sue Eckley, I disagree with the Sgt., you can slide into the ditch at 25-35mph. And sorry Sue, but thank Heavens I had a hot shot pickup to get myself out of that ditch! "

 Laurie wrote on December 3, 2008 5:22 pm:
" Hwy 6 between 84th and the Waverly onramp was solid ice at 6am this morning. A little truck did a 360 right in front of me and he was MAYBE going 20 mph.

Re: Ignig... I did notice. I also noticed, driving this morning, that although Mr. Tiedeman said "it washed off", I can assure him it did not. I could tell the exact point at the city limit where the city had stopped applying their salt stuff. It was NOT wasted and I for one was grateful it was there. THANK YOU city public works guys! "

 Rod Munch wrote on December 3, 2008 5:30 pm:
" Some city official was asked about preparation on tonight's news. He said the decision was made at 3:00 a.m. to not apply salt, hoping that the temperature would not drop sufficiently to cause the icing that we experienced. He (proudly) stated that this saved the city several thousand dollars.

My guess is that the motorists who, collectively, are now paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in deductibles after being involved in accidents due to the icy conditions would have like to have seen a different decision. That relatively small savings caused untold delays and property damage for the commuting taxpayers.

It seems like we experience these situations way too frequently in Lincoln; there's always a reason (excuse) for roads not being treated or cleared in time to avoid what we experienced this morning. "

 Public doesntWorks wrote on December 3, 2008 5:42 pm:
" Come on! Look at the forecast before applying this stuff! If snow/ice is predicted, get the trucks out. If we are to have sun and above freezing temps, leave trucks in the barn.

"Even though the city has been laying down a salt-water mixture on its roads every week for the last month, the mixture had mostly washed away by the time the snow fell Wednesday morning, said Roger Tiedeman, west district manager with Lincoln Public Works." "

 Greg Hageman wrote on December 3, 2008 6:16 pm:
" People slow down and relax the city has done nothing wrong they spray ice melt and you wine they dont get enough down you wine it was the first snow of the year I drove all over town and had NO PROBLEMS{yes it is part of my job} I was patient 20 years ago people didnt wine like this.they delt with it. Go get some cheese to go with that wine and stay home !!!! "

 Slow Down wrote on December 3, 2008 6:26 pm:
" Yep blame everything on someone else. Oh nothing is your fault. Everyone went to bed last night knowing that the weather was going to change. If you cant plan your morning to deal with slick streets then thats your problem. The mix the city puts on the streets is not to keep the roads from being slick its to help keep snow from sticking to them. I don't remember anyone from the city saying this is a anti iceing agent.
I havee been all over this country and there is not a city that is perfect when it comes to clearing streets or keeping them from becoming slick. Its up to the people driving to be safe. If you think its to bad to go in and your so worried about getting your car hit take a bus or stay home this is Nebraska home of the idiot drivers. "

 Jalengrma wrote on December 3, 2008 7:38 pm:
" Drivers will never learn to slow down until they crash into another vehicle.

Also, just because last Thursday was Thanksgiving, They should have laid the road mixture down anyway. Snow doesn't wait because of holidays. "

 to Ummm wrote on December 3, 2008 8:05 pm:
" what the heck is your point? "

 BOB wrote on December 3, 2008 8:30 pm:
" I don't need google anymore. If I need to know something I come to the LJS comments...you people know everything. "

 Lucille wrote on December 3, 2008 8:49 pm:
" Most problems I encountered were on inclines and at intersections. One car unable to get going can create a whole mess of problems not having anything to do with people driving too fast. If no ones moving at all, no one's moving fast. I understand winter in Nebraska and expect these conditions but a little sand at major intersections and the steeper inclines would've done a great deal to improve the commute this morning. "

 snowflake wrote on December 3, 2008 9:15 pm:
" Here we go again. Sounds like a broken record played after every storm, big or small. The whiniest always seem to concern side streets. Did anyone stop and think that if all of those cars were off of the street it might be more feasable, or should the snowplow drivers get out and scoop the cars out of the accumulated pile-up arond them. Mayby they should do everyones drive, also. Save me. "

 Lincoln Voter wrote on December 3, 2008 10:01 pm:
" I agree lets get a NEW street superintendent start with that and see how it goes because his old ways just don't make the grade. So make with a change mayor/city council members "

 Dan wrote on December 3, 2008 10:25 pm:
" Personally, driving from Wahoo to Ceresco was not a problem at 6:15 this morning... the problems started near Lincoln, but hey, it is December. Slow down and lay off the hard braking...use your transmission...drop from drive to about 40 or so and then drop to 2nd... it'll take you right down to 25 or so. Braking hard equals sliding... just drop gears. Works fine. Drive safe and SLOW DOWN!!! "

 MattS wrote on December 4, 2008 12:01 am:
" Am I missing something? Am I supposed to believe, from reading your comments, that just simply driving over ice causes you to spiral out of control and end up in the ditch??

These two LAWS come to mind when I'm driving and it's icy out:
1. "A body continues to maintain its state of rest or of uniform motion unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force."

2. "To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."

It's not the presence of ice that caused you to careen into the ditch this morning. Instead, it was YOU that caused the end result of being stranded in the ditch. It was YOU who accelerated, decelerated, turned, or even just bumped the steering wheel while your car was over an icy patch. Granted that those are common and necessary maneuvers while driving, when ice is present they have to be done in a control manner and at the correct time.

I'm not saying that all 84 reports were unavoidable, accidents happen. But what is sad is that there are so many adults (experienced drivers) that have driven on snow and ice before, yet there are still this many reports after 0.4 inches of snow.

I’ve been in Lincoln 5 years and each year these articles still surprise me. I guess growing up on a farm and learning how to drive on dirt/gravel every day and through mud and snow prepared me for the 0.4 inches of snow/ice I would experience on pavement…

I wish you all good luck the rest of the season! "

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