While you should always take care behind the wheel, winter presents many challenges. These winter driving statistics can enlighten Idaho drivers and urge them to stay safe.
Winter driving can be deadly
More than 70% of roads in the United States are in areas that receive over 5 inches of snow each year. Of course, Idaho is no exception to that. This makes it challenging to drive as the roads are slippery with snow, sleet and ice and visibility is significantly reduced. Vehicle accidents are more likely to occur in these conditions.
When a car or truck accident occurs in these areas, it’s also more likely to result in fatalities. Compared with driving in optimal, dry road conditions, driving in wintry weather makes it harder to slow down and stop. Around 70% of accidental deaths occur from driving in these conditions each year.
Rate of crashes during winter
Unfortunately, many people don’t take driving in the winter as seriously as they should and don’t realize how dangerous it is to neglect proper winter vehicle maintenance. In addition to slowing down on wintry roads, some drivers fail to prepare their vehicles for the weather.
Around 24% of traffic accidents occurring in the winter are on roads covered with snow, slush or ice. Some drivers know they should avoid getting behind the wheel if a snowstorm is expected. Others know that if they are driving and a snowstorm starts, they should pull over to safety and wait for it to clear.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, December is the deadliest month for road accidents. Combined with the weather, more people are on the roads and driving at night. Colder temperatures often adversely affect the performance of vehicles.