Oklahoma City Police Share Information Regarding Winter Weather Responses

If you need to drive on Friday, first responders say icy conditions are making the roads dangerously slick.

Joining the News 9 team Friday morning to talk more about safe driving is Oklahoma City Police Public Information Officer Dillon Quirk.

Q: It seems like motorists have been heeding the warning you've been giving the city, what are your reports this morning?

Quirk: "We still have non-injury accidents halted, so we aren't responding to those this morning, but if you have to get out, make sure you're traveling slow out there. We are seeing some difficulty getting out of the neighborhood where they're not as maintained as some of those main roads."

Q: You guys had a lot of crashes that you worked on Thursday? Did you see a common theme to those crashes and maybe what caused them?

Quirk: "Speed is always a factor, whether there are conditions on the roadway like there were yesterday or just everyday driving. You want to give those in front of you or around you plenty of space, and you can do that by traveling a lot slower and giving some extra space between the vehicles."

Q: The crews at the salt barn have worked hard to help make the roads good for drivers. it does seem like it's paid off this time.

Quirk: "Absolutely. Super thankful for them to help get our roadways in an area where hopefully we don't have to respond to any injury collisions out there. If there are injury collisions, we will still respond to those and help people as much as we can, but if you find yourself in a non-injury collision out there, don't stand on the side of the roadway, maybe put yourself in a better position in a parking lot or somewhere. If you just can't move your vehicle, stand on the opposite side of the guardrail and just try to remain as safe as possible. You still can call 911, we will still respond and get some help to you."

Q: In those non-injury crashes that police are not responding to, what is OCPD telling those drivers to do?

Quirk: "You can exchange your information with that other driver, but again, I can't reiterate this enough, you have to get yourself in a safe position to do that.