If police had to grade local drivers for how they handled last weekend's snowstorm, we'd probably fail. From Friday night through Saturday night, state police in District 7 which includes Rock Island, Mercer, Henry, and Knox counties, had to help 79 stranded motorists, and handle at least 14 accidents.
Trooper Jason Wilson says the good news is no one was killed, and only one person was injured. But most of the accidents, and calls for help, occurred after the snow had stopped falling but before the roads has been completely cleared.
His advice is to be very careful, even after a storm is over because of the potential for snow drifts, and especially black ice.
Wilson says this sort of thing happens every winter - and usually it takes local residents several snowstorms to get back in the habit of safe winter driving - allowing more time for travel, increasing your following distance, slowing down, and not slamming on the brakes.
