The Dangers of Winter Driving in Wichita
As cooler temperatures settle in and the snow begins to fall, the dangers of winter driving in Wichita make their annual appearance. The two major traffic ways that bisect Wichita, Kellogg Avenue running east to west, and Interstate 135 running north to south, allow drivers to quickly travel across the city, but also pose a potential hazard. Large sections of Kellogg Avenue and I-135, as well as smaller sections of K-96 to the north, are elevated roadways. These elevated roadways are exposed to air flow on all sides, as opposed to surface streets which are only exposed to air on one side, and accumulate ice and snow much quicker than normal roads.
Drivers beginning their commute on relatively safe surface streets may not be aware of the hazards posed by elevated roadways, or be prepared to react to quickly changing conditions. As the area where a surface street transforms to an elevated roadway is quite small, a stretch of road can go from totally clear to covered in snow or ice in a matter of feet. This transition can take drivers by surprise, leading to pile ups and chain reaction-type accidents.
If you are unfortunate enough to be involved in an accident, remain in your vehicle and ensure that you and your passengers are safe. Make sure it is safe to exit your vehicle before checking on anyone else involved in the accident. If someone needs assistance, immediately call 911 and inform dispatchers of the situation. In the case of minor accidents, move all the vehicles involved out of traffic if this can be done safely. If no one is injured, and the accident results in less than $1,000.00 of damage to property, the Wichita Police Department has an on-line Motor Vehicle Accident Report available at:
https://www.wichita.gov/CityOffices/Police/Forms/AccidentReport.htm.
Next, exchange insurance information with any other drivers involved in your accident; including the other driver’s name, address, phone number, insurance company, policy number, driver license number, license plate number, and the owner of each vehicle. If your cell phone has a camera, it can be helpful to take photos and/or video of both the damage to the vehicles and the setting and condition of the roadway where the accident occurred. It can also be useful to identify any witnesses to the accident, and ask if they would be willing to provide their name, contact information, and a description of what they saw happen. As accidents can be very stressful situations for everyone involved, it is important to be civil and choose your words wisely when discussing the circumstances of the accident with the police and others involved. Finally, contact your insurance carrier to determine what additional steps, if any, need to be taken to resolve any additional issues concerning your accident.
If you have any questions related to this article or an automobile accident, you may contact Klenda Austerman attorney Aaron J. Good at agood@klendalaw.com.
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