Winter weather leading to increase of cars breaking down, becoming a safety hazards

DAYTON — As temperatures continue to stay below freezing and snow continues to fall, more and more vehicles can be seen broken down on the side of the highway. State Highway Patrol say these abandoned cars can become safety issues during the winter, and even more so as more snow heads to the Miami Valley.

Normally, if a car were to break down and be left by their owners, a green ticket would be applied to the vehicle to signal that the owner has 48 hours to move it. During a snowstorm, though, State Highway Patrol said that they and the Ohio Department of Transportation reduce that deadline as these vehicles become safety hazards for other drivers and plow trucks trying to clear the lanes.

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“If we have a significant weather event, ODOT will request that we get vehicles moved off the berm sooner and we can do that statutorily because they are definitely a hazard,” Sergeant Chris Colbert said.

Colbert backed the position up by pointing to a deadly crash that took place last month on I-75 in Butler Township. Two women were killed when a car drifted into the right shoulder and struck them as the waited for a tow.

Colbert said instances like that are “not completely uncommon.”

Cox Media Group