I still remember one particular morning during my first Michigan winter when I had to drive to work early in the snow. I was still unfamiliar with the intricacies of handling a car in the snow, and as I was driving—probably a little too fast—down a slightly curved road, I suddenly felt myself lose control. I spun out, crossed over the oncoming traffic lane, and landed in a ditch.

Luckily, there was no one around, I was OK, and so was my car. But that moment left a very big mark on me and how I drive in the winter. Mostly, that means avoiding it as much as possible if I’m being honest.

The fact is, curved roads are dangerous in the winter.

But now, researchers at Michigan State University might have found a solution that could help drivers navigate curved roads more safely in the winter, and it’s surprisingly simple.

Read on for the details.

Concealed pistol age requirement could drop under proposed bill (MLive): Some Michigan lawmakers want to let 18-year-olds carry concealed pistols, lowering the current minimum age from 21. Supporters say young adults already take on major responsibilities, while opponents argue judgment and impulse control aren’t fully developed. The bill keeps all existing background checks and training requirements in place.

Another round of snow expected tonight (WWMT): More snow is headed for Michigan Monday night into early Tuesday, particularly in the western part of the state. Expect difficult travel in heavier bands.

MSU plans to hire Pat Fitzgerald as football HC after firing Smith (AP News): Michigan State is expected to hire former Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, per an AP source, days after firing Jonathan Smith following a 4–8 season. Fitzgerald, who settled with Northwestern after his hazing-related dismissal, went 110–101 with two Big Ten West titles. MSU hopes the move resets a program that has struggled to find its footing since Mark Dantonio’s departure.

Example of activated slippery curve warning signs on eastbound M-32 near Gaylord. (Michigan State University)

By Capital News Service

Winter—skid season—is almost upon us, making curves slipperier and more dangerous.

Now a new study done in Northern Michigan shows that flashing LED lights on signs near curves can successfully warn drivers to slow down during wintry conditions.

Curves can be deadly.

The state tallied 128,517 crashes on curved roadways during winter weather conditions between 2018 and 2022, causing 175 serious injuries and fatalities, plus 1,360 less serious and suspected injuries, the study said.

Curves on flat roads—called horizontal curves by highway engineers—“present a major challenge to drivers, especially when there is a significant difference between the posted speed limit and the curve advisory speed.”

Navigating curves becomes more hazardous when snow and ice reduce pavement friction, increasing the odds of a vehicle leaving its lane.

Horizontal curves are responsible for more than 25% of fatal crashes, and vehicles leave the road in most of those incidents.

Field testing of flashing LED lights took place along a 1.7-mile rural section of M-32 west of Gaylord. The two-lane undivided highway there has a posted 55 mph speed limit, while the curve has a 45 mph advisory speed.

The slippery curves study is part of a larger project looking for effective speed warning technologies, said Timothy Gates, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Michigan State University. The research is funded by the Michigan Department of Transportation.

MSU researchers used sensors to collect data on pavement conditions and tested on days with early morning snowfall that tapered to overcast or light snow by midmorning, the study said. Air temperatures ranged from the upper 20s to lower 30s.

LED lights on the borders of “slippery when wet” and “curve” signs were programmed to automatically activate in 30-minute cycles during adverse conditions.

The signs “had a significant speed reduction effect for drivers approaching the curve during winter weather conditions,” according to the study published in the journal Transportation Research Record.

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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Karel Vega with a feature story from Capital News Service. It was edited by Paula Solis.

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