It’s no secret that we see our fair share of snow in Utah and Idaho. Our mountains are home to some of the best skiing in the country and our kids hope for at least a few snow days every winter.
But as much fun as winter can be, the snow, ice and slush make some hazardous road conditions that can often lead to car accidents. Here are a few winter driving facts that everyone should keep in mind when they hit the roads:
- Tires make all the difference — Safe driving in snow and ice starts with making sure your vehicle is in good shape, which includes checking that your tires that have deep tread and a strong grip. Consider buying a set of tires designed specifically for cold conditions. If you drive in the mountains regularly in the fall and winter, studded tires can help you get up the inclines safely.
- Give yourself more stopping distance — It can take up to 10 times longer to stop on snowy or icy roads. Some car insurance companies recommend cutting your speed in half when driving on snowy roads.
- Most winter accidental deaths take place in automobiles — Of all accidental fatalities that happen during the winter, about 70 percent of them occur in auto crashes.
- Snow drastically increases travel time — We’re used to free flow of traffic in Utah and Idaho, particularly on the interstate highways. But when it snows, expect travel times to increase dramatically. The Federal Highway Administration says light snowfall on freeways cuts average travel speed by 13 percent, while heavy snow cuts it by as much as 40 percent.
- December is the deadliest winter month — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration conducted a 24-year study and found that December is the winter month with the highest number of traffic deaths.
Even if you take all the proper precautions, other drivers may not. At Morgan Law Firm, we seek just compensation for people harmed in winter driving accidents in Utah and Idaho. We know how to investigate to what extent car and truck crashes are caused by failures of drivers to adjust to the snowy or icy roads. If you were hurt in a car accident, schedule a free consultation with an experienced injury lawyer by calling 208-999-1717 or contacting us online. We have offices in Boise, Meridian, and Middleton, Idaho and in Lehi and Ogden, Utah.
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