Many people assume winter is the most dangerous season for driving, but in many states, fall actually poses the greatest risk – resulting in more car crashes than any other time of year.
According to a CARFAX analysis, fall accounted for the highest percentage of crashes in 39 states, more than any other season.
Why is that?
Several seasonal factors combine to make fall driving more hazardous.
The most common risks include: Diminishing Daylight, Slippery Road Conditions, and Dangers from Deer.
Diminishing Daylight:
About half of all U.S. traffic crashes occur during hours of darkness.
As fall arrives, daylight hours grow shorter, and even more so after the end of daylight saving time. This means many people suddenly find themselves driving in the dark during times of day that were previously well-lit.
Drivers are twice as likely to be involved in a crash at night compared to daylight. Reduced visibility slows reaction times, making it harder to spot hazards in time.
At night, depth perception, color recognition, and peripheral vision are all compromised, and the glare from oncoming headlights can momentarily blind a driver, further increasing dangers of an accident.
Slippery Road Conditions:
Fall is the time of year when leaves fall from the trees and cover the ground. Believe it or not, wet leaves can be just as dangerous as driving on ice.
Leaves have a waxy coating that repels water which leads to the pile up of moisture on top of the leaves, creating a slippery surface. Leaves can also trap water underneath them, causing them to remain wet for hours even once it has stopped raining. This leads to slick driving surfaces.
When breaking on wet leaves, a driver needs double the amount of time to stop, as they would need breaking on dry ground.
Being unaware of the risks associated with wet leaves can result in drivers driving too fast for the conditions or failing to slow down adequately on turns, which can cause catastrophic and fatal car crashes.
Dangers from Deer:
More than 2 million deer-related motor vehicle accidents occur each year.
The fall months are the time of year when deer are most active.
Therefore, it is peak season for collisions because it coincides with deer mating and migration, when deer are most active.
The time of day when deer are most active are dawn and dusk – and due to the change in season and daylight savings time, more people are out on the roads during those times of the day.
The combination of increased deer movement and reduced visibility during darker fall commutes significantly raises the risk of deer-related accidents.
Conclusion:
With shorter days, changing weather, and increased wildlife activity, fall presents several conditions that raise the risk of car crashes.
By staying attentive and adjusting to seasonal changes, motorists can reduce their chances of being involved in a collision during the fall months.
If you are involved in a crash and suffer injuries due to an accident that wasn’t your fault, Diller Law can help you get the compensation you deserve.
For a free legal consultation call us at (866) 513-5644.
Additional Sources:
https://www.nsc.org/road/safety-topics/driving-at-night
https://www.mass.gov/news/a-closer-look-at-deer-breeding-season