TPD Urges Drivers To Slow Down, Stay Safe During Winter Weather

Distracted drivers are to blame for three wrecks this week involving Tulsa Police patrol cars. TPD's Traffic Safety Coordinator Lieutenant Paul Madden hopes the trend ends before the snow moves in.

“Definitely keep the cell phone down. Inattentive driving is rampant. We’re all guilty of it but we must be more attentive when driving, especially when there's snow and ice on the roadway," he said.

Besides texting and driving - Madden has seen another common mistake Tulsa drivers making during recent winter storms.

"Probably something that’s overlooked more than inattentive driving is hurried driving," he said.

That means overconfidence on ice and unhesitating drive times.

“When you speed up, you start making mistakes," he said. “When there’s ice and snow on the ground, I increase my travel time. I have to. That’s the safest way to do it.”

These are all basic tips but Madden hopes the simple reminder cuts down on crashes - and avoids a repeat of Monday and Tuesday's officer involved wrecks.