Traffic Accidents Pile Up In Charlotte Metro Area

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte police responded to nearly 200 traffic accidents, by 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, more than double the number of accidents reported on a typical day, the department said as it advised area residents to stay off the road.

“We've already surpassed the number of crashes CMPD typically works a day and it's not even ‘rush hour’ yet. As of 4 p.m., our officers investigated 181 wrecks,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police said on Twitter Jan. 17.

Across the state, the numbers were even more staggering. North Carolina state troopers responded to more than 700 service calls for more than 500 traffic accidents, according to the governor’s office.

“This snow storm may be moving a little slower than we thought, but that means its impacts on North Carolina will likely be even greater,” Gov. Roy Cooper said Wednesday. “The snow is pretty, but it can be dangerous. If you don't have to brave the roads, please don't.”

SEE ALSO: Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Makes Decision About Jan 18 Classes

That message was echoed Wednesday afternoon by NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., who tweeted a photo after he “center punched a pine tree” after he stopped to help out another driver.

Work crews with the North Carolina Department of Transportation have been treating roads for two days, putting down more than two million gallons of salt brine on state roads.

“Statewide we have nearly 1,500 employees with more than 1,000 trucks and graders ready to clear roads, with assistance from more than 540 contractor trucks,” Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon said Jan. 17. “Our salt and sand supplies were replenished across the state from the storm earlier this month so plenty of those materials are on hand.”

Here are Winter Driving Safety Tips from ReadyNC.org:

• Don’t drive in snow and ice unless you have to.
• Reduce your speed.
• Be sure your gas tank is full.
• Leave lots of room between you and other vehicles.
• Approach bridges and overpasses with caution.
• Keep basic items on hand -- scraper, jumper cables, blankets, flashlight, first aid kit, road map.
• If you start to slide, take your foot off the gas pedal.

Photo courtesy of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department