There have been hundreds of surveys, polls, and tests taken in order to find out just how dangerous it is to drive when the weather is anything other than nice and mild. Researchers and statisticians found that 24% of all crashes are likely to occur due to adverse weather conditions. This includes things like ice, snow, and rain. Within the research it was clear that many drivers do not take in to consideration the adjustments they need to make to their driving habits due to the changes in the weather.
Almost 7,400 people are killed and over 670,000 are injured annually in motor vehicle crashes. Of these, 225,000 of them are due purely to the errors of judgement made within the worse weather conditions- slips on ice, grip becoming worse in rainy conditions, and winds blurring vision can be major factors in the roads becoming more dangerous to navigate.
There are many different ways to stay safe within the harsher weather conditions, and considering you do these you should be relatively safe taking your daily commute to work. Getting up early or leaving early, by at least ten minutes in order to prepare your car can be a huge help all on its own. Checking your wipers before your journeys can ensure you will get the most out of them, and that they will not struggle to remove snow, rain or ice from your windshield should you be caught in bad weather.
De-icer and an ice-scraper should be kept in the car- this means you can use them whenever you need to. If it does become necessary to stop whilst driving and use them, be sure to be pulled in to a safe place beforehand. A clear windscreen is the best way to be sure you will have maximum vision. The same goes for all other windows and mirrors. It is important to be sure that the roof is also clear of snow and ice, as this can slip off and on to the windscreen which will make it harder for you to see.
A good grip on your tyres is essential to staying on the road. If need be, it may be wise to invest in a few pairs of snow tyres, or in some snow chains. Keeping these in the car means that they can be located and used at any moment’s notice- so you will not be stuck at work if it begins to snow.
Jan Tinbergen
Jan Tinbergen, (born April twelve, 1903, The Hague, Netherlands. – died June nine, 1994, Netherlands), Dutch economist observed for the development of his of econometric models. He was the co-winner (with Ragnar Frisch) of the very first Nobel Prize for Economics, in 1969. Tinbergen was the brother of the zoologist Nikolaas Tinbergen and was knowledgeable […]