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The weather interferes with roadway safety through visibility complications, precipitation, high winds, and temperature extremes to impact driver capabilities, vehicle performance, pavement friction, roadway infrastructure, crash risk, and increased traffic flow complications.
Precipitation (rain, snow)
Rain and snow create problems with driver visibility, pavement friction and lane obstruction. These variables contribute to a vehicle's performance, specifically traction, roadway capacity, traffic speed and accident risk. When visibility of drivers and pavement friction is diminished, the likelihood of car accidents rise. It is little wonder that more car accidents happen not only in snowy conditions but also caused by wet pavement. No matter the season, wet pavement can contribute to accident risk through loss of automobile traction. Wet road conditions can be a hazard year round, but the winter brings far more snow and ice to complicate roadways.
Weather-Related Statistics on Vehicle Accidents
On average there are 6,301,00 vehicle crashes each year. Approximately 24% of these crashes, about 1,511,000 are weather related. Weather-related crashes are defined as those crashes that occur in adverse weather (ie., snow, sleet, rain and/or fog) or on slick pavement (i.e., wet pavement, snowy/slushy pavement or icy pavement). On average 7,30 people are killed and over 629,000 are injured in weather related crashes each year. (NHTSA data from 1995-2008)
The vast majority of weather-related crashes occur on wet pavement and during rainfall. Seventy-five percent on wet pavement and forty-seven percent during rainfall. A much smaller percent occur during winter conditions. Fifteen percent of crashes occur during snow/sleet and thirteen percent occur on icy pavement; and eleven percent on snowy or slushy pavement. Fog contributes to only three percent of the total crashes.
The Three P's of Safe Driving-PREPARE, PROTECT AND PREVENT
PREPARE
- Maintain Your Car: Check your battery, tire tread and windshield wipers, keep your windows clear, put no-freeze fluid in the washer reservoir and check your atnitfreeze
- Have on Hand: flashlight, jumper cables, abrasive material (sand, kitty litter, even floor mats), shovel, show brush and ice scraper, warning devices (such as flares) and blankets. For longer trips take food, water, medication and cell phone
- Stopped or Stalled? Authorities recommend staying in your car, do not overexert, put bright markers on antenna or windows and shine dome light. If you run your car, check for clear exhaust pipe and run it just enough to stay warm
- Plan Your Route: Allow plenty of time to reach your destination by checking the weather and road conditions, be familiar with maps/directions and let others know your route and expected arrival time.
- Practice Cold Weather Driving-during daylight, rehearse maneuver slowly on ice or snow in an empty lot, steer into a skid, know your brakes--stomp on antilock brakes and pump on non-antilock brakes, increase stopping distances, and do not idle for a long time with the windows up or in an enclosed place
PROTECT YOURSELF
- Buckle up and use child safety seats properly
- Never place a rear-facing infant in seat in front of an air bag
- Children under 12 years of age are much safer in the back seat
PREVENT CRASHES
- Drugs and alcohol never mix with drinking
- Slow down and increase distances between cars
- Keep your eyes open for pedestrians walking in the road
- Avoid fatigue- Get plenty of sleep before the trip, stop at least every three hours and rotate drivers if possible
- If you are planning to drink, designate a sober driver
- Do not pass snow plows and sanding trucks. The road in front of them is likely worse than the road behind
- Brake gently to avoid skidding
- Turn your lights on to increase your visibility to other drivers
- Use low gears especially on hills to increase traction
In consideration of the snow and freeze that has hit the Midwest since Sunday, there is little wonder there are more car accidents in Missouri and Illinois. In fact, the Illinois Governor declared a state of emergency so the National Guard could be called upon. The best advice is to not drive unless you absolutely required. However, at some point, most of us must travel whether we really want to or not--work requires us to travel and simply getting out tot he grocery store is necessary after several days. So when you drive, be careful. Implement the Three P's of Safety, be Prepared, Protect Yourself and Prevent Crashes.
In St. Louis, there have been some serious car accidents including the death of a young woman on Interstate 44 who may have been implementing all of the safety precautions possible. In spite of driving safely, preparing and protecting, accidents may happen. We hope that reminding folks to be prepared and be safe will safe one more person from being injured or killed.
What if I'm in an Accident?
- Determine first if there are any injuries and call 911 for medical assistance- be certain any victims are getting emergency medical assistance as a first priority no matter fault of the accident
- Call the Missouri Highway Patrol or local authorities so they may assist in getting medical assistance and for documentation of the accident and traffic control
- Exchange insurance information with the other driver(s) as well as contact information
- If possible, take pictures of your wrecked vehicle and the crash site. Download our free iPhone or Droid application "Injury Attorney" for steps you can take and document from your smart phone.
- Give statements to officers recalling facts and events--"I feel" statements or speculation are not helpful to officers
- Monitor your physical condition and seek medical assistance right away. I always recommend that anyone who is in a crash seek medical assistance right away. Adrenaline and shock may cloud your actual physical condition. If the accident was a minor crash and you do not initially feel you are hurt, monitor your progress closely in the days that follow and seek medical assistance for any lingering pain, soreness or especially numbness
Keep all of the information that you gathered after the
car accident. Crucial evidence may be in the photos that you take or the information that you gain. Obviously, sorting through liability and insurance matters are not the first priority following a crash but can be very critical in the days/weeks that follow. The first priority is to be certain you are okay physically and have not been injured. In those instances where serious injuries are involved, you may not be able to photograph the scene or the vehicle. Often investigators, officers and even tow yards will photograph wrecked vehicles and diagram the crash site. All of this information is critical when you go negotiate with an insurance company.
Whether or not you will need to file a personal injury claim will depend greatly on your injuries. Frequently, insurance companies do a good job of compensating for property damage, however, other damages such as medical costs, pain and suffering are frequently contested since the medical bills can become very costly as well as it is sometimes difficult for all parties to agree on the amount of the loss wages, medical costs and pain/suffering. When serious injuries or fatalities are involved, getting expert assistance from experienced personal injury attorneys is usually the best option. Seeking information and consultations are always free so simply contacting an attorney for information and advice is a free service of which all individuals should take advantage.
Our attorneys are available seven days a week to answer your question. Locally, (314) 276-1681 or toll free (800)685-3302
Sources: Driving Safety Tips. The Weather Channel.
Safe Winter Driving. Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
H
ow Do Weather Events Impact Roads? U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Highway Administration.