Interstate 75 is a dangerous corridor, but do you know why? One of the issues that has caused collisions is the fact that the roads are simply too slick. Take, for example, an issue that was addressed in November. There had been several serious collisions in the same location on I-75, and it finally drew enough attention to get a construction team out to fix it.
The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 6 spokesperson stated that the roadway was actually too smooth, which resulted in vehicles crashing. This is known as roadway polishing. It happens when there are many vehicles using the roads because the roads are smoothed and condensed down over time.
Roadway polishing is dangerous on its own, but if you add ice, snow, sleet, or rain to the mix, it becomes even more treacherous. Vehicles slip and slide around, and tires cannot grip the surface.
How do you fix a road that has roadway polishing issues?
There is a machine called the Skidabrader. This machine is very interesting because it uses small ball bearings to blast the surface of the roadway. That blast causes the roadway to break down, which gives it more friction. Essentially, the machine has to create angles on the pavement so that your tires can grip the roads.
Roadway polishing is dangerous, but there are things you can do to help prevent a collision as a result of hitting a smooth patch
Remember, busy corridors like I-75 will see traffic that wears it down over time. Roadways can become slick, and while the state will come to repair the surface, that takes time.
So, how can you prevent a car accident? Your best bet is to make sure that your tires have enough traction. If you read about or see a crash in a similar area over and over again, make sure you either avoid that section of the road or slow down so that you can control your vehicle. On rainy days that could make the roads slicker, take your time and give yourself more space to maneuver.
Slick roadways can cause crashes that result in injuries and deaths. It’s up to everyone to do their best to control their vehicles and to report slick roads when they’re causing regular issues. By being proactive, you may be able to help report roadway polishing and seek its repair before anyone gets hurt.
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If you’re suffering injuries after a motor vehicle accident, you need an Ohio or Northern Kentucky car accident attorney from The Lawrence Firm on your side. Our Cincinnati and Covington personal injury attorneys truly care about our client’s well-being while providing the strongest legal representation throughout Kentucky and Ohio. You can reach our Cincinnati, OH law office at (513) 651-4130, our Covington, KY law office at (859) 578-9130, or toll-free at (800) 698-4054 today for a free consultation.