SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – When snow flies in Utah, you can count on dozens of fender benders on the freeways. Now if happens to you, the Utah Department of Transportation and the Utah Highway Patrol want drivers to move off the road.
If you were out on roads throughout the Wasatch Front Thursday, getting into an icy crash was probably the last thing on your mind, but with snow in the forecast Friday, some people can almost expect it.
"Everybody forgets how to drive in the snow," said Nick Larsen, driver.
"You think Utahns would be used to that and could drive a little better," said Craig Bozarth, driver.
So if you get into a crash on the freeway, troopers don't want you to wait in your car.
"People have understood for a long time that you stay at the scene of that accident, now on our Utah highways that's no longer that case," said Rep. Eric Hutchings, (R) Kearns.
Now instead, Utah law states if you get into a minor fender bender on the freeway, troopers want you to call 911, and then if possible move your car to the next exit.
"If we can clear up that initial crash as quickly as possible, we'll prevent the second crash, the third crash and so forth," said Colonel Daniel Fuhr, Utah Highway Patrol.
Troopers claim it will not only make slick roads safer, but it will also reduce traffic congestion.
Drivers ABC 4 talked to, like it.
"I think that's a reasonable request," said Laurie Olsen, driver.
"Then you don't jam up the freeway and everything,” said Bozarth.
“You think it's a good idea?” asked Reporter Brian Carlson.
“Yah," said Bozarth.
"You really should pull off to the side out of the way so somebody doesn't rear end you," said Larsen.
If you can't pull off on your own, UDOT now has incident management trucks retrofitted to do it for you. However it happens, they want you do to move over, the next time you get into a crash.
