FACTS

Common accidents that can occur in rainy weather:

1. When water accumulates on the surface of the road faster than it can disperse, it creates a thin layer of water between the tires and the road. This can result in hydroplaning, where the tires lose contact with the road, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
2. Reduced visibility and longer stopping distances on wet roads can lead to rear-end collisions.
3. Slippery road surfaces can cause vehicles to skid or slide, leading to accidents with other vehicles.
4. Aquaplaning is similar to hydroplaning, but it occurs when a vehicle skims a thin layer of water at high speeds.
5. Wet roads reduce the effectiveness of braking, increasing the risk of accidents.
6. Puddles and standing water can obscure potholes and other road hazards, leading to damage to the vehicle.
7. Wet roads can make it difficult for drivers to stop at intersections, leading to accidents with cross-traffic.
8. Heavy rain can reduce visibility, making it difficult to see other vehicles, road signs, and pedestrians.

STATS

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that wet pavement causes 70% of weather-related car accidents, and rain causes 46% of weather-related car accidents.
• On average, more than 6,000 people are killed and 445,000 people are injured due to weather-related accidents. 10% of all car accidents are caused by rain.
• Speed reductions on arterial routes range from 10 to 25 percent on wet pavement. Light rain reduces freeway speed by 2 to 13 percent. Freeway speeds fall by 3 to 17 percent in heavy rain. Rain and wet pavement increase crash risk as well.
• Most weather-related crashes occur on wet pavement and during rainfall. Each year, 75 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on wet pavement and 47 percent happen during rainfall. Nearly 5,700 people are killed and more than 544,700 people are injured in crashes on wet pavement annually. Every year, over 3,400 people are killed and more than 357,300 people are injured in crashes during rainfall.
• A driver is 34% more likely to be in a fatal crash during a rainstorm – and the risk more than doubles in a heavy downpour.