Kansas City’s slippery roads dangerous for drivers in the wintertime

Most people know the feeling. You’re driving along and then BAM. Hello pothole, how are you? Meet my car.

During the winter, the risk of potholes increase because of icy or snowy weather that erodes the street pavement. This makes the street conditions dangerous for drivers. If Kansas City, Missouri streets were plowed sooner it would diminish the dangers of these holes and create a safer driving environment for people.

It is never easier to notice the difference between Kansas and Missouri than in the winter, especially when I live two houses down from State Line. I watched through a blizzard as three or four snow plows drove down our street not plowing anything in front of them. However once they reached the intersection of 63rd and State Line, they lowered their plows and started cleaning the Kansas streets.

Winter Driving Tips

Follow these tips to be a safe driver this winter

• Accelerate and decelerate slowly.  It takes longer to slow down on icy roads.
• Drive slowly.  Give yourself time to maneuver.
• Increase your following distance from three to four seconds to eight to ten seconds.
• Know your brakes.  The best way to stop is threshold braking.
• Don’t stop if you can avoid it.
• Don’t power up hills and don’t stop going up a hill.
• Stay home.  Even if you can drive well in the snow, not everyone else can.

Source: www.aaaexchange.com

Standing there bundled up in a puffy coat, scarf, with gloves and a hat on while holding a shovel trying to get the snow off the driveway was not exactly how I pictured spending my Christmas morning.

My dad, being a sane man, but looking crazy, jumped out into the street as the next slow plow came down the road. Offering the man some money he couldn’t turn down, the man plowed our driveway, effectively ending our white Christmas snow shoveling extravaganza. Our neighbors flocked outside to beg the man with the plow to not only plow their driveways, but the street as well. In the end, the man never did plow our street, but it gave me a view of how much demand there is for snow plows.

On one side of State Line the streets are dangerously icy for days and weeks after the storm and on the other side it’s like it never snowed. Kansas streets always seem to be plowed, which makes some Missouri drivers scratch their head, including me. How does Kansas always have nicely plowed roads?

Overland Park spent an awful lot of time not only clearing main roads, but also residential streets. This is what Missouri needs-more focus on basic needs and services, rather than spending money on light rails or sports arenas. I actually found myself wanting to spend time in Kansas because of Missouri roads. Crazy, right? So Missourians, let’s put our tax money to good use like Kansas does.

But more importantly, on average, over one hundred Americans are killed in automobile accidents across the United States every day. Most of these deaths are caused by inadequate road circumstances. With safer driving conditions, we would have a safer city.

The Final Say Kansas City, MO needs to plow roads faster and more efficiency after snow storms to increase driver safety