ROCKFORD (WIFR) -- It’s no secret the first two months of winter have been mild, but some businesses are suffering due to our lack of snow.

At this time last year we were cleaning up over 15 inches of snow, but this winter has been mild to say the least which has made winter driving a little more manageable in the Stateline.

Driver Dana Franzen said, "I didn't see the car accidents. I didn't see the cars in the ditch like normal. Maybe people are taking it a little easier or maybe because the road conditions have been real well."

“A decrease in accidents means a decrease in business for local towing companies.

Chris Ward from Ed’s Wrecker Service said, "We've seen a drop in calls. Without the icy roads or the slippery roads, there just doesn't seem to be the accidents that there normally is."

A decrease in activity for tow truck drivers can be felt at the nearest auto body shops as well.

Karl Canavesi from Rock River Ford said, "The last two weeks, those last two snowfalls we did produce some work. We're down this January from last January but the last two snowfalls did help some."

Auto Body Shops like Anderson’s usually see their peak business in the winter months because of the hazard road conditions the snow causes, but a mild winter for us means a slow winter for the auto repair business.

While business may be dragging in the auto repair area, the Rock River Ford dealership on North Alpine says they have actually surpassed January sales from last year for service and many towing companies say their numbers are down in the recent years because there is more competition than there has been in the past.