A survey of 3,000 drivers named Interstate 35 Texas’ most feared road to drive in the winter. It's not surprising considering the icy conditions that have accompanied the recent coldsnaps make the sprawling road a fatal game of bumper cars.
The highway is one of the deadliest in the country. Low visibility and a propensity for ice in the winter don’t help matters. There are reportedly 12 fatalities per 100 miles on I-35, which stretches from Laredo, near the Mexico border, crosses through San Antonio, Austin and Dallas, and ends all the way up in Duluth, Minnesota.
The study, conducted by Gunther VW Daytona, surveyed 3,000 respondents spread across all 50 states. Five roads in Texas were named the most feared in the winter, with I-35 being the worst of them. Of the five, three run through Dallas. The other Dallas-area routes listed are Interstate 45, connecting Dallas and Houston, and Interstate 20, which offers a path between Dallas and Forth Worth.
“Winter driving presents unique challenges, from sudden ice patches to blinding snowstorms, making certain roads far more treacherous than others,” Joe Gunther IV of Gunther VW Daytona said in the study. We may not have blinding snowstorms in North Texas, but the joy of seeing flurries around these parts can be distracting.
The organization had tips for faring well in the winter weather. First and foremost is to simply slow down. Perhaps that's hard to do in the state that has the fastest highway speed limits, but try your best, especially when roads are icy. Quit tailgating too. Allow yourself more room to stop.
Generally, proceed with caution — brake slow, steer smoothly and accelerate gradually. Check your tires; it’s unlikely Dallas will ever require heavy-duty snow tires, or tread chains, but keep your pressure up to increase traction. Remove all snow from your vehicle before driving, and watch for black ice. The deceptive patches of ice look like resting water, but one bad patch can catapult you to your demise.
Above all else, stay home when road conditions are bad. If the biting temperatures weren’t enough to convince you to get back in bed, maybe the heightened risk of accident will.
In 2021, following 36 uninterrupted hours of below-freezing temperatures, a 133 vehicle pile-up on I-35 West, on the Fort Worth portion, caused the death of six people. The accident was a result of deficient de-icing measures and revealed a lack of proper monitoring of the highway. This year, Fort Worth spent days salting roadways ahead of a winter storm.
“Our survey highlights the highways and routes that drivers fear most during the colder months, underscoring the importance of preparation and caution,” Gunther said. “Proper vehicle maintenance, reduced speeds and emergency preparedness can make all the difference. Above all, if conditions are truly dangerous, sometimes the safest decision is to stay off the road entirely.”
