Looking out the window and seeing rain and fog can make a regular day seem dreary and glum. While you may want to stay home, some obligations require you to venture out into the weather.
Between the wet conditions and the low visibility, it can be challenging to drive in the rain and fog. Unfortunately, you are not the only one, which is why you may see more accidents in inclement weather.
Here are a few ways that rain and fog contribute to accidents on the road.
More distance, please
Fog can make everyday life feel eery and mysterious. On the road, however, it can be difficult to see other drivers until it is too late to react.
While fog-related accidents are fewer than five percent of all weather-related vehicle crashes, it is still essential to use care when driving in fog. The most important measure you can take is to give other drivers (and yourself) more space. You may be able to see and react to the vehicle directly in front of you, but you may not be able to see the cars ahead making last-minute decisions.
Ready for rain?
While visibility has its challenges, driving in the rain can be even more difficult. In addition to lower visibility, wet roads can make for long and treacherous stopping distances.
All wet roads can increase your stopping distance, but the road can get especially slippery if it has not rained for a while. When roads are dry, oil and dust accumulate. Then, when it rains, the water mixes with the oil and dust to create a slippery surface. While the road will be less slippery after the oil and dust wash away, you should still decrease your speed and keep your distance on wet roads.
Driving in wet and low-visibility conditions can be dangerous and cause many crashes every year. It is essential to drive carefully when there is wet weather.
