Law enforcement officials agree if motorists don’t have to drive they should stay indoors because the roads are deceiving.

Since 5 a.m., Salisbury Police have responded to three accidents, said Capt. Shelia Lingle.

She advises people not to drive, but understands some people need to travel for work and others will venture out later in the day. Lingle said if anyone has to drive, do so slowly and carefully and leave in plenty of time to get to a destination.

There have not been reports of power outages, but Lingle encourages people to look in on elderly relatives and neighbors.

“It’s been awful,” said First Sgt. Keyla Bell, of the N.C. Highway Patrol.

She said troopers have responded to 23 calls for service, within a three and a half hour period, which included cars in ditches and other wrecks.

“The roads are getting worse. As this sleet comes, it’s only getting worse. It has turned to black ice,” Bell said.

What people don’t realize, she said, is that when motorists take risks to drive in bad weather, law enforcement and other emergency personnel has to respond, which puts their lives at risk.

“We are putting our lives in danger because you are out there,” she said.

East Spencer Police Chief Sharon Hovis said they have not had any reports of weather related crashes, but she advises people to stay indoors as well.

China Grove Police Chief Eddie Kluttz said they’ve had no reports of accidents, but traffic in the area is nonexistent. He said the majority of businesses are closed.

Main Street and U.S. 29 are both clear, but the secondary roads, he said, are not.

The N.C. Department of Transportation maintains the main roads and helps with some of the town’s “trouble spots” he said, but the town road crews plan to get out after the storm has subsided.

The police department is limited, but it doesn’t mean officers are not patrolling, Kluttz said.