Drivers Advised to Stay Off Roads

The winter weather closed several schools across Oklahoma, as vehicles slid around the slick streets.

Monday, January 26th 2009, 10:22 pm

By: News 9

By Colleen Chen, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The winter weather closed several schools across Oklahoma, as vehicles slid around the slick streets.

A bus full of Oklahoma City students slides off the roadway, trying to stop at an intersection in Spencer.

Despite Tuesday's icy forecast, many will venture out to the roadways as they drive to work.

The phones haven't stopped ringing at Arrow wrecker service since Julie Adams walked in at 7 a.m.

"We have 28 drivers," Julie Adams of Arrow Wrecker said. "Nobody has been here for lunch."

Mezny said the conditions are too dangerous for drivers.

He was called after a UHaul pickup truck became stuck on patches of ice.

Instead of towing the truck, Mezny scattered Floor Dry on the ice.

"We even do this on big truck when 18-wheelers get stuck on solid ice," Mezny said.

Drivers can keep the product in their car for slick situations.

Mezny advices drivers who find themselves slipping on the roadway, to turn in the direction of the skid.

"If you're slipping left, go left," Mezny said.

He also said spend the time to defrost all of the vehicle's windows so visibility is 100 percent.

Mezny said his number one rule is, if a driver doesn't have to get out, they should stay at home.

"We don't need the money that bad," Mezny said. "We don't want to see anyone getting hurt."

Throughout the day, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol worked 60 injury collisions, and reported two people died. They checked on another 140 non-injury crashes.

Live traffic reports and road conditions.

Several metro schools and canceling evening events. View a full list of school closings.

The main forecast problem continues to be the potential winter weather event for early this week. Rain and freezing rain will expand over the state as the day progresses on Tuesday.