The 6 Accident-Causing Weather Conditions to be Aware of This Winter

This type of precipitation is deceiving at best, and downright evil at worst. It falls as rain, but freezes quickly when it hits surfaces that are below the freezing temperature. Because of this, even a little bit of drizzle can turn a normal road into an ice rink. In fact, roughly 40% of “ran-off-the-road” weather accidents come from icy roads. So the next time you get ready to take a drive on a cold, rainy day, make sure your trip doesn’t take you into an area where the surface temperature is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit.

This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s still one to be aware of. It’s obvious that if you can’t see, you can’t drive, but sometimes fog can seem to appear out of nowhere. Most fog occurs when there is a difference between the ground and air temperature, causing the humidity to condense into fog. The tough part about this driving hazard is that often times it can be patchy and dense, going from 1-mile visibility to zero in a matter of seconds. Dense fog is a major contributor to many multi-car accidents on the highway. If you drive into near-zero visibility fog, pull over or get off the highway. While you may be driving cautiously, someone behind you may not be as smart.

3. Snow.

Again, while this might seem straightforward, there are hidden dangers of snowfall that one might not realize while driving on the road. The obvious problems are visibility and tire traction. In short, if you know you’re going to be driving in heavy snow, wait it out, and leave later. However, during heavy snow bursts like ones that occur in lake effect snow bands can drop snow at 4”+ an hour. Even if you travel slowly, snow like this can melt when it hits your warm windshield (if you’re using a heater), and partially refreeze, forming chunks of ice that can clog up your wipers. Rush hour is the most likely time for this to happen.

4. High Wind.

While many cars can handle a little bit of wind, driving in the mountains on a windy day or along the coastline during a winter storm can cause some serious problems. If you’re driving in a high-profile vehicle such as a van, box truck or even an 18-wheeler, the wind has more to push on, and therefore more room to knock you around. Before heading out, check the weather in a few locations along your route to make sure the wind isn’t stronger in certain areas, especially if you look to make elevation changes on your way.

5. Black Ice.

While the result can be similar to driving in freezing rain, the way this kind of driving hazard is formed differently. Any time there is water on the ground, if the temperatures dips to at or below freezing, it can form black ice, which is called that since it looks like there’s nothing but pavement. Black ice can be tough to detect. If you head out in the morning after a day or rain or snowmelt, be wary and drive carefully to avoid hitting a patch of this stuff on your drive to work. It could really ruin your day.

6. Other Drivers on the Road.

I know, kind of a cop out for the last one, but I think this might actually be the most dangerous element of them all during the winter weather season. Even if you’re cautious and driving safely during inclement weather, the odds are good that someone driving near you is not paying attention to any of those rules. 24% of all traffic accidents are attributed to weather, and it’s almost always one person’s fault. By sharply braking on slick roads, tailgating, or not having the proper winter tires, other drivers can be a huge danger to you.

So remember, winter is coming, and in some instances, it’s already here. So be sure to take an extra look at the weather forecast, drive with caution, and be aware of aggressive drivers during this already tough winter season. If you think there are other bad winter conditions that I didn’t mention, please note them in the comments.

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