Intersections with one-way bridges, sharp turns or narrow lanes are dangerous even in good weather. In fact, 78.6% of intersection crashes between 2005 and 2007 occurred on completely clear days. Extreme weather can make a difference in your normal driving. This mainly affects your vision, which is very limited in adverse weather conditions such as rain, fog, ice, snow and dust. Work zones require slower speeds to ensure the safety of construction workers so that drivers can observe new traffic patterns. Be careful in work zones, as other drivers may not see these new patterns or lane closures, causing them to cut dangerously into your lane without warning. It`s also important to find a safe place to go out and park until the weather improves. Road conditions in freezing rain are very unpredictable and truckers may encounter patches of black ice. It is better to stop and wait than to risk the crisis.
Most people learn to drive in good weather, but life doesn`t always offer the ideal weather conditions for driving. When Mother Nature gets angry and starts throwing storms, fog and ice at you, the roads become slippery and driving becomes risky. Adverse weather conditions can make driving even on familiar roads a mind-blowing experience. When driving in the dark, it is recommended to use your high beam to see as far as possible and make sure your speed is such that you can easily stop when needed. If you see another vehicle approaching, it`s a good idea to switch immediately to low beams. Do not flash your lights as this will distract the other driver. Try not to look at approaching headlights and focus on the left side of the road. Slow down if you have any doubts.
In towns and villages, watch out for cyclists without lights and pedestrians dressed in dark clothes. Dense fog can seriously affect the driver`s view on the road. In fact, it was implicated in 9% of weather-related deaths between 2007 and 2016, accounting for 464 deaths. The safest way to deal with fog is not to drive in it if possible. If you must drive, keep these driving tips in mind: If you have been involved in a car accident due to dangerous driving conditions, including rain, contact the law firm of Anidjar & Levine at 1-800-747-3733. We may be able to help you determine if you are eligible for compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Therefore, it is important to note that intentional recklessness or extreme weather conditions are not necessary for a tragedy to occur on the roads. Another driver could cause an accident in the rain by: Fog reduces visibility and makes it difficult to tell when cars are ahead, where the road is turning, or if a traffic light has changed. While the U.S. Department of Transportation only reports that 3% of weather-related car accidents are due to fog, which still makes driving dangerous. With winter weather waiting behind the scenes, it`s only a matter of time before the number of winter accidents starts to rise in 2017.
To better understand the risks – and identify the roads that should be avoided when Jack Frost wreaks havoc – we have identified the ten most dangerous states for driving in rain and snow. Rain is one of the most dangerous driving conditions. While snow, ice, fog and other weather conditions bring their own dangers, the driving condition that causes the most accidents in the United States is rain. That`s according to data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), which estimates that 47 percent of weather-related collisions each year are associated with rain. Each year, the agency attributes more than 357,300 injuries and 3,400 deaths to rain. According to the FHWA, other dangers of driving in the rain include: On most roads, there is space outside the continuous white line. In some cases, however, the emergency lane of the road is a steep slope. If you hit the edge of the shoulder drop, you can damage the tires or lose control of your vehicle completely. Also, most people don`t think rain is as dangerous as ice or snow, so they don`t take as many precautions or drive as carefully when it rains. According to a report from the Auto Insurance Center, even Alaska has more fatal accidents due to rain than snow.
Drivers are responsible for responding to changes in road conditions to ensure safe roads, including extreme weather conditions such as rainstorms. If they fail to take these precautions and an accident occurs, these drivers can be held liable for the resulting damage. Freezing rain is at its peak, according to nearly 63 per cent of truckers who participated in the survey. It can be almost impossible to maintain control of a tractor-trailer once the roads are icy. Rain is one of the most common hazards in road traffic. It reduces handling and braking ability, and also increases the risk of skidding. In addition, it carries risks such as standing water and limited visibility. Rain requires more attention and slower speeds. It is recommended to keep a good distance between you and the vehicle in front, as the brakes do not work as effectively on wet roads. If the road is flooded, let the vehicle in front of you drive first and keep a slow pace in the middle of the road. Then, also check your brakes to see if they are working as expected.
Give yourself enough time to stop. It takes longer to stop in wet weather as the roads can be slippery. You should also keep a good distance between you and the car in front of you. If you have to brake, you might start skidding. One of the most important things to remember when driving in the snow is this: it will probably take you twice as long to get where you`re going, so make sure you take plenty of your time. It`s best to drive slowly and steadily, as snow and sleet are involved in 13% of weather-related deaths. But it`s not just the cold and precipitation that can change your driving behavior. You should also pay attention to high temperatures, glare from the sun and strong winds. Reading the next chapter will help you understand how extreme weather conditions can affect your driving and the operation of a car.
No matter the weather, your chance of dying in a car accident is one in 114.³ Of course, winter conditions affect these chances, but you don`t have to trade your car for snowshoes. There are simple things you can do to improve your chances on dangerous roads. Click here for more articles on FreightWaves by Nick Austin.5 Worst Weather Conditions for TruckersAmerica`s Most Dangerous Roads for TruckersReview of Some of the Best Weather Apps for Truckers About 4% of drivers said strong winds were the worst weather conditions behind the wheel. Most truckers caught in strong crosswinds on Interstate 80 in Wyoming would agree that those winds can be strong enough to get a truck off the road. In all weather conditions, fog is probably the most dangerous, so if you`re driving in foggy weather, lower your speed and turn on your low beams. When the fog becomes so thick that you can barely see, move safely and completely off the road. In 2016, floods and tornadoes were responsible for a total of 144 weather-related deaths in the United States.¹ That same year, more than 2,800 people were killed by snow and rain on U.S. roads.² Winter road conditions such as sleet, ice, snow and freezing rain make getting behind the wheel a risky step. Use the white line on the right side of the road.
The white line is easier to see in bad weather conditions. This will help guide you and stay on track. It also prevents your vision from being affected by oncoming traffic lights. Slow down in winter conditions to stay safe. When you move away from a traffic light, you accelerate slowly. Never apply the brakes in winter conditions and give yourself enough time to stop behind another vehicle or at a traffic light. Roads that are not maintained regularly can develop potholes that are dangerous to drive and can cause damage to your vehicle. If you hit a pothole and lose control of your vehicle, you can cause an accident and need to hire a car accident attorney to defend yourself. The average cost of repairing a vehicle damaged by a pothole is $306, according to the AAA. Another complication that rain can cause is a road obstruction.
If the rain falls too fast for drainage systems to keep up, the sides of the road can be flooded quickly, creating the conditions for aquaplaning. When a vehicle flies by seaplane, its tires briefly leave the road and slide on the water. This lack of traction can lead to loss of control of the vehicle and potentially skidding. In the same study mentioned above, the U.S. Department of Transportation reports that 18% of all weather-related crashes are due to snowy or icy road conditions. Be careful when driving in the following conditions: According to nearly 19% of truck drivers, heavy snowfall in the distant second is the most dangerous weather conditions. If the weather forecast calls for heavy snowfall, motorists should have tire chains on board. This is required by law in several states. When the weather gets really ugly, drivers need to be ready to leave the road to follow one another for better traction.
Typically, state traffic departments warn drivers with traffic signs when they need to fasten their chains. Having these tips with you can help you manage the road to drive in some of the most common weather conditions. For more resources on safe and defensive driving, visit our Driver Resource Centre. When ice and snow cover roads, car accidents become more likely. In such a situation, it is recommended to slow down. Even if you have an SUV or four-wheel drive, you should still be careful as they are also prone to weather-related accidents.
