Temps Expected To Drop, Drivers Take Caution

BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ)--While drivers are dealing with wet roads now, that could soon change as temperatures will drop below freezing Monday night.

Marcus Washington has the details.

Wet weather, moving vehicles, and cold temperatures. It's a combination that could turn bad for many Maryland drivers.

"I would have preferred it not to be icy," said Jimmy Lance.

Monday morning turned out to be fairly accident free for most drivers.

"The driving is good, its not bad as long as you use common sense," said Nicholas Zito.

But on Ruxton Road in Baltimore County, two cars had troubles. One was a police car during rush hour. The other, a car slid off the road, barely missing the guardrail before crashing.

"I noticed the roads were slick, but I was just trying to get to work like everybody else," said Kevin Wenger.

As temperatures drop into the evening wet roads like this will get colder causing the water to freeze, creating what many call black ice--which is just ice forming over a dark surface.

"If it looks wet out there assume it's icy, especially the bridge, the ramps and the overpasses. You have to proceed with extreme precaution tonight," said Charlie Gischlah, of Maryland Highway and Safety Administration.

Inside the Maryland Highway Safety Administration all eyes are monitoring the conditions on the roads.

Skeleton patrols will continue throughout the night to monitor the conditions as temperatures drop below freezing.

For the someone carefully walking on the ice, or someone laying down the salt to melt it--conditions can get a little rough too.

"Especially on the read bricks that are here on the ground, they are very slippery. I've already fell once. Yeah it's very slick and nasty out," said Allen Runkles.

A constant reminder to stay vigilant both on the road and the sidewalk.