60 Traffic Accidents in Season's First Snowfall

There were more than 50 fewer accidents during Tuesday's snow event than during the snow over the weekend, a fire official said.

From noon Sunday to 7 a.m. Monday, there were an estimated 60 traffic accidents in Anne Arundel County—the first snow of the season. But during the region's second snow event, from 7 a.m. Tuesday to 7 a.m. Wednesday, there were a mere 17 accidents.

Anne Arundel County Fire Department Division Chief Keith Swindle said there were fewer drivers on the roadways Tuesday, which led to fewer accidents. With schools closed and government offices on liberal leave, there were bound to be fewer accidents, he said.

"If you take the community out of the equation, there's just going to be fewer people on the roadways," he said.

Swindle also said the weekend's snow brought more ice than Tuesday's storm, which brought more powder. Most of the incidents over the weekend were single-vehicle accidents involving property damage due to sliding on the ice, he said.