Traffic accident near Istra
During the day, a string of incidents unfolded along the Novorizhskoye Highway near Istra, damaging a total of 20 vehicles. The Moscow regional police traced the chain of events to two major crashes that occurred around 12:20 on December 3 at the 51st kilometer of the M-9 Baltia highway.
Initial reports indicate that a Datsun collided with a moving Audi after the driver lost control, resulting in damage to five vehicles. In a related incident on the same stretch, a Suzuki driver spinning out of control struck a Ford truck ahead, drawing in two more vehicles.
Mash warned of a 5-kilometer traffic jam caused by the accident. As hours passed, figures rose: 17 cars were cited as damaged and traffic toward Moscow along the Novorizhskoye Highway ground to a standstill. By the evening, RIA Novosti reported a total of nine crashes involving 20 vehicles on the Istra region segment of the highway, with no confirmed casualties at that stage.
A source from the agency stated that the primary cause of the incidents was the slick road surface and snowfall.
Authorities announced that traffic police officers had been moved to an enhanced operation mode due to difficult weather. Inspectors actively monitored road conditions, directed traffic, and assisted drivers facing hazardous situations.
The State Traffic Inspectorate urged drivers to account for severe weather and avoid long-distance travel where possible.
Accident on M-2 Crimea
A separate major crash was reported in the Moscow region at the 55th kilometer of the M-2 Crimea highway, involving six cars and one truck, according to TASS. A short distance away, another heavy truck struck a bump and veered into a ditch.
Although officials attributed the incidents to a slick road and snowfall, the crash contributed to a growing traffic buildup on the highway.
Oliver
Weather analysts attributed the severe conditions to the strong hurricane named Oliver. Evgeny Tishkovets, a leading expert at the Phobos weather center, described Oliver through his Telegram channel.
Tishkovets explained that this Genoa-like tropical cyclone had formed off Liguria a couple of days earlier. He noted that daytime precipitation represented a sizable portion of the monthly total.
Snow depth in the capital reached unprecedented levels on Monday morning, according to the meteorologist. He added that the snow cover might exceed historical records from 1952 and 2004 when depths approached 30 centimeters, a figure he calculated based on data.
Be confident
Traffic police highlighted that most accidents occurred when drivers misjudged road conditions. Defensive driving experts caution against overreliance on electronic aids in such situations. Faced with a slippery road emergency, drivers should remember a few key practices.
Electronic Stability Program ESP provides benefits primarily at lower speeds. It engages after a driver has already made a mistake, helping to mitigate consequences, according to experts from MasterClass Emergency Driver Training Center, cited by a traffic safety publication.
To prevent skidding, drivers should actively control the steering wheel. The system will brake individual wheels and adjust braking forces according to grip levels across the wheels.
When a vehicle encounters an unstable surface, such as from dry asphalt to freshly fallen snow, the electronics may prompt a driver intervention.
On such roads, a layer of snow can slide away from under a tire as braking begins, misleading the system into thinking a wheel has stopped and potentially increasing braking distance by reducing force, according to safety experts.
Za Rulem magazine contributors note that aggressive use of the gas or brakes can cause a car to skid. Gentle pedal input is advised. For front-wheel-drive vehicles, modest acceleration helps regain stability.
During turns, applying the gas more cautiously is recommended since the car may drift into the opposite lane. If a turn is necessary, the best approach is to ease off the gas before entering the bend, then accelerate smoothly, steering minimal adjustments in the process.
Experts also advise avoiding deep snow if possible, suggesting detours around large snowdrifts. There is a risk of underestimating snow depth or mixing old and new snow, which can trap a vehicle or cause damage.