Boston winters are notorious for being dangerous for motorists. High wind speed, snow and rain, fog, and cold pavement temperatures can all significantly increase the risk motorists will get hurt on the roads.
Drivers need to be aware of some of the biggest dangers associated with winter car accidents and need to make sure they are taking precautions so they can keep themselves safe and so they can reduce the chance of hurting themselves or others.
Tips for Boston Drivers to Avoid Winter Collision Risks
While most Boston drivers are aware that snow can be dangerous, there are also other hazards on the road as well. For example, Federal Highway Administration (FHA) provides insight into some of the weather-related events which increase the chances of motor vehicle accidents occurring. According to FHA:
- Wind speed affects how far ahead motorists can see. Blowing dust and snow can impede visibility and make it harder for motorists to identify obstacles in their path. Wind speed can also result in lane obstructions if debris blows into the roadways. These two combined hazards significantly increase car accident risks because impaired visibility often means motorists may not be able to see debris which has blown into the roads in time to get out of the way.
- Fog affects visibility, and can cause crash risks because motorists cannot see obstacles in their path.
- Pavement temperature can affect tire pressure and can do damage to infrastructure. Motorists need to make sure their tires are inflated to correct pressure levels to reduce the possibility of a blowout causing their car to lose control.
- Excess water from melting snow or rain can cause lanes to become submerged, causing serious safety risks when drivers lose traction control of their vehicles.
More than 5.8 million motor vehicle crashes occur annually within the United States, with an estimated 23 percent of the collisions considered weather-related. This means more than 1.3 million accidents every year occur in part because of bad weather conditions. The vast majority of these accidents occur when roadways are wet. Seventy-four percent happen when the pavement has water or ice on it and 46 percent happen when the rain is actually falling.
Motorists can reduce their chances of getting into a weather-related accident over the winter by following best practices for safety. Obviously, this means learning to drive effectively in the snow and knowing how to respond to ice. However, drivers also need to be cognizant of how to drive safely during foggy and windy weather.
Drivers should reduce their operating speed, sometimes to below posted speed limits, when they are operating their vehicles in sub-optimal weather conditions. When operating a vehicle in foggy conditions, low-beam headlights and fog lights should be utilized and the right-sided pavement line can serve as a guide to remain within the correct lane. By taking reasonable precautions to stay safe, motorists can ensure they reduce the chances of collisions this winter.
If you are injured in an accident in Massachusetts, call Jeffrey Glassman Injury Lawyers for a free and confidential appointment: (617) 777-7777.
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