Bad Weather: Bad Drivers
by Lauren Whisenhunt
CBS 42 News
|
Bad drivers…distracted drivers…fast drivers…What is to blame for most of the accidents on our roads?
Each year, nearly 7,400 people are killed and over 670,000 people are injured in crashes. But not all wrecks are because of driver error. Find out what factors cause most of these accidents.
Rainy weather can wreak havoc on highways. When a big storm rolls in, drivers tend to either slow down too much. Some drivers use caution in the rain, others do not. When you hit a puddle of water at either normal or faster than normal speeds, your car could be set spinning out of control.
Drivers need to be wary of driving in any change in the weather. A new study by transportation engineers reveals that nearly one-quarter of all crashes occur in bad weather conditions. Most happen on wet pavement.
Researchers found that more fatal crashes occurred in the south. This region experiences the highest rainfall totals. It also has a very high population.
Snow and ice covered roads tend to scare drivers into staying home or driving more carefully. However, many drivers don't consider rain as 'bad' weather. Therefore, more cars end up on wet roads, and drivers don't slow down enough to avoid serious accidents.
Weather can impact visibility, distance, pavement friction, vehicle performance and travel speeds. We need to have a better understanding of how weather impacts our roads and then we can make better travel decisions.
More wet weather accidents can be avoided if drivers slow down and increase their distance from the car ahead.
Researchers also found an increase in crash risk at the start of the winter season. Throughout the winter season, drivers seem to adjust and relearn how to drive in snow.
|
