ST. LOUIS — Some cars slid off the road, others were involved in crashes in the St. Louis region Tuesday morning.
"We've seen an increased number of calls for emergency roadside service," AAA spokesperson Nick Chabarria said. "Unfortunately people are in a rush and they aren't slowing down. Especially around curves or the on-ramps to the highway, any hills, those are the trouble spots drivers should look out for."
The Missouri Department of Transportation's District Maintenance Engineer Bob Becker said the snow played a factor.
"We limited the amount of treating because a big concern there is if you treat the roadway and then it melts and freezes right back over again," Becker said.
Unfortunately, some icy spots still popped up.
"We had some spots. That was the problem this morning during rush hour," Becker said. "It was spotty conditions and people would be on dry pavement, they'd be running pretty good and then they'd hit a spot. We'd had those accidents, which backed traffic up."
He said the slick spots were either snow not fully coming off or snow that blew back on the roads.
"Typically, the lane closest to the median has a little more snow on it because we work our way from the outside in and they get out there and they hit a slick spot and they'll end up in the barrier or something like that," he said.
Fortunately, the sun on Tuesday was a big help. The rays touched the roadways, a natural melt to assist treatment.
While they work hard to get ahead, MoDOT and AAA remind drivers to take it slow because conditions can change fast.
"Conditions change especially when it's this cold, it doesn't take much for something to get on the roadway and cause a problem. In these conditions, everything works slower and it's harder to do," Becker said.
AAA also said the number one call they've received is dead batteries.
They recommend having jumper cables.
Chabarria said if the battery is more than three years old. get it tested so the battery can be replaced preemptively. If it's more than five years old, it should be replaced because that is the life span for one.
Here are some numbers from AAA:
From Jan. 9, 2024, to Jan. 16, 2024, in Missouri (full state) and Illinois (Metro East and southern counties):
- AAA responded to 20,139 calls for Emergency Roadside Services
- 88% increase in call volume compared to the week prior
- Top three reasons drivers called AAA for assistance
- Dead or disabled battery – 41%
- Tow – 36%
- Flat tire – 13%