Officials in Arkansas continue urging safety as roads refreeze overnight
While some ice has begun to melt, ARDOT officials continue to urge caution and to look out for black ice while on Arkansas roadways.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — As winter weather has made its way to Central Arkansas, it has also left most roadways covered in sleet, ice, and snow.
“The cold can be deceiving because there’s not a lot of snow on the ground and there’s ice under it,” said Samuel Lurie who was visiting Little Rock from Vermont.
The road conditions posed a safety risk for many drivers on Tuesday evening but as the next day came, the roads looked to be partially clear— with much of the ice and snow having already melted away.
However, officials have urged drivers to continue to keep an eye on the roads as black ice and the refreezing of melted ice could put their safety at risk.
“You may see a clear stretch of the highway, or whatever you may think or hear conditions are improving. Then they get out there and drive their normal [speed] and then they hit that spot in a particular area that hasn’t been getting as much sunshine then they panic,” explained Dave Parker with the Arkansas Department of Transportation.
Moments such as those described by Parker could cause accidents. Since noon on Tuesday, Arkansas State Police shared that they have worked at least 255 wrecks.
“We had the accidents last night at Interstate 40 Lonoke area, Carlisle area. It’s just really hard to get tractor-trailers out of the way easily when it’s these conditions,” he described.
Officials have been continuously treating the roadways to combat the icy conditions in an effort to limit the number of accidents.
However, if you find yourself in a situation where you’re having trouble while on the road you should remain calm and steer in the direction that your vehicle is sliding or slipping.
“The car will usually correct itself,” Parker said. “If you slow down a little bit, I know it’s frustrating. You know, it takes you longer to get to where you need to go, but you get there safely.”
The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) has also been keeping an eye on what’s going on across the state.
“Don’t go out unless [you] have to but make sure that you’re leaving plenty of distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front. Pay extra close attention to what’s going on around you,” said AJ Gary, the Director for the ADEM.
If you find yourself stranded on the side of the road or stuck in standstill traffic, officials advise drivers to keep an emergency kit inside their bag with an emergency blanket, water, snacks, and emergency contacts.