Beware of Black Ice: Oklahoma City Officials Issue Warning to Drivers

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK-- City crews are buckling down for an icy Friday morning.  As crews run the snow routes across the Oklahoma City metro, city officials warn all drivers to be careful.

"What we're really concerned about overnight is the black ice," said Kristy Yager, a spokesperson for the City of Oklahoma City.

With more snow sticking around Oklahoma City Thursday, Yager says city crews have been looking for snow on the street and plowing it off to prevent black ice from forming.  She emphasizes black ice is not visible to the naked eye, and all drivers must be extra cautious on their morning commute.

 "It will look clear," said Yager, "but there may be some black ice that becomes extremely dangerous."

Aside from city crews salting roadways, towing companies, like Arrow Wrecker Service in Northwest Oklahoma City are also bracing themselves for a busy Friday morning.

"We're going to have several guys hanging around, probably all night long," said Danny Day, Manager of Arrow Wrecker Service.

Day says Arrow Wrecker Service received about 45 calls Thursday morning into the early afternoon.  He says school districts in the metro cancelling classes helped relieve traffic congestion that leads to problems on icy days.  Although Thursday was almost business as usual for Arrow Wrecker Service, Day says if temperatures drop below freezing, he expects many calls coming in.

"You not only have the regular accidents, but you have people get off the road and into the ditches," he explained. 

Day and Yager both advise commuters to stay off the roads as much as possible.  City crews will run the snow routes until 8 PM Friday when conditions are expected to clear up. 
  Beware of Black Ice: Oklahoma City Officials Issue Warning to Drivers

Posted: Friday, February 22 2013, 10:57 AM CST