Murfreesboro Adds 500 Tons of Road Salt in Preparation for Snow Forecasts

Posted in Car Accident,Personal Injury,Tennessee Accident Law on February 24, 2016

Murfreesboro Adds 500 Tons of Road Salt in Preparation for Snow Forecasts

Murfreesboro’s city manager recently ordered 500 tons of road salt to help prepare the city for the threat of more winter weather over the next 24 hours.

According to a report by the Daily News Journal, the National Weather Service says there’s a 50-percent chance snow will hit the Middle Tennessee area on Wednesday night, and temperatures could dip to as low as 35 degrees.

The salt purchase was the second of the winter season for Murfreesboro road crews. The first purchase of 1,000 tons of road salt occurred in late January and helped replenish the salt used to treat roads after the first winter storm that hit Middle Tennessee on Jan. 22.

Street crews in Murfreesboro used 500 tons of additional salt between Monday, Feb. 8, and Wednesday, Feb. 10, to treat roads after multiple snowfalls during that time period.

Murfreesboro’s road treatment costs are reimbursed 40 to 50 percent by the Tennessee Department of Transportation as part of the city’s contract to clear snow from all state and U.S. highways that run through the city.

4 Important Facts about Highway Safety from the Tennessee Highway Patrol

Although the roads aren’t expected to be as treacherous late Wednesday and early Thursday as they were during last month’s snowstorm, it’s still important to be prepared in case you have an emergency while driving. The Tennessee Highway Patrol says that there were more than 158,000 car accidents in the state last year, and many of those accidents occurred during inclement weather.

Here are four tips that the THP recommends to all drivers who encounter trouble on the road, regardless of the weather or road conditions:

• You can dial *847 to speak with the nearest THP dispatch office.

If you need assistance while traveling on a highway or interstate in Tennessee, getting help from state troopers is just a quick phone call away. Dialing *847—or *THP—immediately connects you to the nearest THP dispatch office. Operators can send troopers to your location to help you, but it’s important to provide information such as the nearest mile marker and nearby landmarks to help them locate your vehicle.

• You should steer your disabled vehicle away from traffic and turn its wheels to the right.

After an accident or any other time when you need to pull over to the side of the road, it’s important that you put as much distance between your vehicle and traffic as you can. If possible, pull over to the right shoulder to protect yourself and your vehicle, and always turn your tires to the right before turning off your vehicle. Pointing your tires to the right will prevent your vehicle from being pushed into traffic if it gets struck from behind.

• You have 48 hours to remove your vehicle from a roadway if you abandon it for any reason.

Whether you were involved in an accident, ran out of gas, or experienced engine problems, there may come a time when you need to temporarily leave your vehicle on the side of a roadway in Tennessee. If that happens, the THP will allow it to remain there for 48 hours as long as it’s not blocking traffic.

• You can signal for help with your emergency flashers, your vehicle hood, and white clothing.

Cell phones and smartphones are something many people take for granted, but you may not have access to one during an emergency situation. If you find yourself in need of assistance with no way of contacting the THP or dialing 911, turn on your vehicle’s emergency flashers, lift its hood, or place something white, such as a t-shirt or towel, on its antenna or out of a window to create a distress signal.

These are just a few of the tips that the THP recommends all drivers follow during and after roadway emergencies. In addition to these tips, it’s also important for drivers to report any accidents to their insurance companies and contact an experienced Murfreesboro auto accident attorney right away.

At Matt Hardin Law, we know that inclement weather like ice and snow leads to an increase in car accidents—especially when drivers are negligent and don’t proceed with caution. If you or someone you love was injured in a car accident that was caused by a careless driver, you may be eligible to receive compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and other accident-related expenses.

To get in touch with our legal team, dial (615) 600-4941 or complete a free online consultation form today.