AP Photo Archive
Police and emergency personnel work to clear a stretch of Interstate 75 near Frederic, Mich., where two people were killed as a sudden snow squall blinded motorists and set off a chain-reaction accident involving more than 50 vehicles Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998.

Winter driving accidents in Rexburg — who’s to blame?

Bad drivers versus un-cleared roads

Ashley Killpack KIL05005@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Spinning out, black ice, fishtailing — these are all terms familiar to drivers in Rexburg this winter.

Between this year’s cold temperatures and above average snowfall, traveling has become a treacherous task. In fact, over the weekend of the 4th eight car accidents were reported to the Rexburg Police Station.

So whose fault is it?

Many students have expressed frustration for poorly cleared roads and extremely icy conditions. However, most seem to agree that driver errors are the main cause of winter accidents.

“The fact is that we can’t control the weather. We can only control how we drive,” said Meaghan Querry, a freshman from Mesa, Ariz.

“For every person who slides off the road, a hundred others drive past safely,” said Alicia Allan, a senior from Sandy, Utah. “Obviously road conditions are not the only factor involved in winter time accidents.”

Many state officials have expressed the same opinion.

“Recent news coverage of accidents on eastern Idaho highways would lead one to believe the sole cause of slide-offs and crashes is slick roads,” said Cathy Koon, Public Information Specialist from the Idaho Transportation Department.

“Reporting the cause of accidents as ‘slick roads’ seems to me to be a disservice to the driving public. It puts the blame on the roads instead of getting across the message that these are accidents that could be prevented by being ... careful,” Koon said.

Capt. Randy Lewis of the Rexburg Police Department agreed.

“Road conditions don’t cause accidents; drivers cause accidents,” Lewis said.

There are many things Idaho drivers can do. The ITD suggests slowing down and driving carefully in hazardous conditions. It also suggests drivers allow more time to get to destinations, check road conditions before leaving and keep as far away from other drivers as possible.

There are also measures Idaho drivers can take to help prepare the roads for snowplows. For example, when a car is parked on the road it makes plowing more difficult and it takes longer. Abandoned cars also create a barrier for snowplows. Therefore, if abandoning a car is necessary, it should be left as far off the road as possible.

Updates on winter road conditions and emergency closures are available at 511.idaho.gov or by calling 888-IDA-ROAD.