Weather Condition and Road Safety
Although the National Highway Traffic Safety Facts in 2007 report showed that during warmer weather months a higher numbers of car crash deaths occurred while adverse weather condition accounts for nearly 20% of highway fatalities.
An article from Forbes.com about the Ten Deadly Mistakes of Winter Driving shared that according to study from the University of California, each year, poor weather is associated with 7,000 fatalities, 800,000 injuries and more than 1.5 million car crashes, with an estimated economic toll of $42 billion.
Weather conditions such as snow, rain, and fog makes roads dangerous. Here’s why:
- Diminished visibility - Rain storms and snow fall can make it difficult for drivers to see. Water from snow and rain can impair the driver’s vision as it may cover the windshield and other side-mirrors. Fog can also significantly impair visibility and render headlights ineffective.
- Diminished Traction - Slippery roads due to rain and snow can make it more difficult for a vehicle to stay on a roadway, to stop, or to avoid colliding with other vehicles. Also, snowfall may obscure defects in the road such as potholes and this will lead to a driver losing control of his vehicle.
- Driver Behavior - But what further aggravates bad weather conditions is speeding while driving. According to the NHTSA, if drivers are on an icy, slippery road, even if the posted speed limit is 55 but the driver is merely at the speed of 40, it may be fatally fast for the weather condition.
Researchers at Berkeley said that a total of 1.4 million fatal crashes were caused by weather conditions from 1975 to 2000.
According to them, fatal crashes are 14% more likely to happen on the first snowy day of the season and the most dangerous day to drive is the day after the first winter storm of the year.
Coping with the different and changing weather conditions is a risk all motorists would have to take. Bur drivers can lessen the risk of a weather-related car accident by driving more slowly, turning on your headlights and by being vigilant in your surroundings.