This week brought a blast of winter weather to Southwest Michigan, and things did not go smoothly out on the roads.
Speaking on the Michigan Department of Transportation podcast, Talking Michigan Transportation, MDOT Director Brad Wieferich said we’ve learned it doesn’t pay to hurry, especially when there’s ice and snow.
“If you could drive home a message to folks, to me, it’s really give yourself the time to plan ahead,” Wieferich said. “Don’t assume that every day you’re going to be able to drive that same speed on that same route. It’s just not practical. It’s not realistic.”
This week’s winter storm led to a 17-vehicle crash on I-94 in Van Buren County that shut down the highway, bringing to mind memories of the 2015 pileup on I-94 near Galesburg. That mess involved 193 vehicles and led to 58 citations to drivers. Wieferich says MDOT conducted a study on that pileup and learned that no matter what preparations it makes, driver behavior simply needs to improve.
With Lake Michigan nearby, Wieferich noted the region can have microclimates in which the slightest difference in conditions can change the weather.
“You can be driving down the road and it can be bright and sunny. And because of lake effect, the way it comes in, you can hit a whiteout. It’s just a wall. And it’s something that folks need to be aware of.”
Wieferich says the study found certain locations along the I-94 corridor where whiteouts are more likely, and they can come seemingly at random.
Looking ahead, Wieferich said one bright spot for transportation safety is the Michigan Legislature this year finally voted to allow safety cameras in work zones.
