Snow accumulated on the road and black ice can both be major hazards. Most motorists make a point of adjusting their driving habits when there is active precipitation or snow and ice visible on the street. They leave earlier, drive slower and maintain more space between vehicles.
Motorists who adjust their habits to account for snow and ice can reduce their chances of causing a weather-related car wreck. However, they might fail to recognize another risk associated with winter weather. Drivers may behave like the roads are clear once temperatures rise and snow or ice begins to melt. That can actually be a very serious mistake.
Melting snow and ice is a major safety hazard for motorists in the winter and early spring. Drivers may need to treat wet pavement the same way they treat streets coated in ice or snow.
Wet pavement is quite dangerous
Weather conditions have a direct impact on the likelihood of a crash occurring. Active precipitation is dangerous in part because it affects visibility. Storms often come with strong winds that can result in drivers losing control of their vehicles. Snow and ice are dangerous for drivers even after active precipitation ends.
When looking at statistics about weather-related car crashes, snow and ice are responsible for fewer collisions overall than wet pavement. Once snow begins melting, the wet surfaces left behind are a major safety hazard for drivers. Fluctuating temperatures that result in snow and ice melting can produce wet pavement. Drivers may also need to watch out for black ice developing after temperatures drop again.
Wet pavement reduces traction and increases stopping distance. According to federal collision statistics, approximately 75% of weather-related car wrecks occur when the pavement is wet. Only 15% of weather-related collisions involve active frozen precipitation and 24% occur when there is accumulated snow and ice.
Drivers excited about higher temperatures still need to be cautious when they head out for their daily commute to work. Understanding the various factors that contribute to overall car crash risk can help people stay safer on the streets. Warmer temperatures that cause snow and ice to melt do not necessarily result in safer driving conditions.
