Winter Weather Wreaks Havoc on Saxony Roads
The arrival of winter in Saxony brought a mix of snow and ice, leading to a multitude of incidents and accidents over the weekend. On Friday evening, a winter storm swept across the region, drenching it with snow and lightning, as confirmed by Jens Oemichen from the German Weather Service (DWD) to the German Press Agency on Saturday.
Snowfall measurements on the mountainous Erzgebirge peaked at 20 centimeters, while the Fichtelberg saw up to 30 centimeters. The high-altitude areas above 600 meters were covered in snow, providing the perfect conditions for building a full-fledged snowman, as Oemichen, the meteorologist, explained.
Unfortunately, the snow-covered roads caused several collisions. Chemnitz's police department reported 54 incidents, including 29 vehicle accidents related to the winter weather. Both the Erzgebirgskreis and Mittelsachsen districts were negatively impacted, with six people sustaining injuries – one of them seriously.
One serious accident occurred in Marienberg (Erzgebirgskreis), where a 44-year-old driver lost control of his vehicle on a slippery road and collided with a tree. Another incident involved a 73-year-old driver who lost control on a steep, snow-covered hill in Lauter Bernsbach (Erzgebirgskreis). Despite driving on summer tires, both cars involved in the accidents skidded out of control.
Four individuals were injured, one critically, after a collision in Vogtland's district on Friday evening. A 24-year-old man swerved onto the wrong lane in a sharp right-hand turn on a slippery road and collided with a 60-year-old woman's vehicle. The woman was transported to the hospital with serious injuries, while the 24-year-old and his passengers experienced minor injuries and were discharged after medical treatment.
The DWD predicted that the chilly weather would persist, leading to Saturday and Sunday snowfall and even mountainous permafrost. Oehmichen, the meteorologist, added that skiers might make their first tracks in the mountains on Sunday, although temperatures would remain milder on Monday.
However, the icy roads posed a significant risk, despite Oehmichen's optimistic outlook for cross-country skiing. The heavy traffic on these slippery roads multiplied the chances of collisions, resulting in numerous incidents and injuries.
Enrichment Insights:
Winter storms in Saxony pose serious threats to road safety, causing accidents due to several factors:
- Black Ice: The combination of freezing rain and snow produces black ice, a nearly invisible and highly slippery surface. These conditions are common in Saxony, where temperatures frequently hover around the freezing point.
- Icy Surfaces: The German Weather Service (DWD) has issued warnings about the prevalent risk of icy surfaces throughout Saxony. Temperature fluctuations make roads incredibly slippery, increasing the likelihood of accidents.
- Snowfall Intensity: As temperatures drop, snowfall intensity increases, often leading to persistent slippery conditions. Areas like Saxony grappled with wet roads and icy patches during the clearing of precipitation on Thursday.
- Public Service Strikes: Recent strikes amongst public services have resulted in fewer personnel to grit roads in regions like Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Hamburg, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein. The lack of gritted pavements and roads makes them even more dangerous, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.
- Reduced Visibility: Snowfall and freezing temperatures can obstruct visibility, making it challenging for drivers to assess road conditions. This is particularly problematic during the night when darkness further compromises visibility.
- Driver Behavior: Authorities urge drivers to drive cautiously during winter storms, especially on Friday mornings, when roads are at their most hazardous due to the combination of early snowfall and below-freezing temperatures. Regrettably, some drivers do not modify their driving habits, thereby increasing the risk of accidents.
