As a South Dakotan, you are probably no stranger to driving in inclement weather. You know how dangerous it can be and how quickly road conditions can go from bad to worse.
Since driving during the winter months can be so hazardous, it’s no surprise that traffic accidents are more common compared to other times of the year.
We have gathered the 25 top facts and statistics of winter driving to help illustrate just how dangerous winter driving can be.
25 Facts and Statistics of Winter Driving
#1 - Over 150,000 car accidents occur each year as a result of icy roads. (Federal Highway Administration [FHWA])
#2 - It can take your vehicle 10 times longer to come to a complete stop when driving on snowy roads. (AAA)
#3 - More than 70% of America’s roads are located in snowy regions, receiving over five inches of average snowfall each year. (FHWA)
#4 - Nearly 70% of the U.S. population resides in snowy regions. (FHWA)
#5 - Average speeds on arterial roadways are reduced by 30-40% on snowy or slushy pavement. (FHWA)
#6 - Freeway speeds decline by 3-13% when snow is light. (FHWA)
#7 - Freeway speeds decline by 5-40% when snow is heavy. (FHWA)
#8 - Annually, 24% of weather-related car accidents occur on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement. (FHWA)
#9 - Annually, 15% of all weather-related car accidents occur during snowfall or sleet. (FHWA)
#10 - More than 1,300 people lose their lives in car accidents on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement every year. (FHWA)
#11 - Over 116,800 people are hurt in car crashes on snowy, slushy, or icy pavement each year. (FHWA)
#12 - During snowfall or sleet, almost 900 people lose their lives in car accidents every year. (FHWA)
#13 - Nearly 76,000 people are hurt in car accidents during snowfall or sleet annually. (FHWA)
#14 - Winter road work accounts for about 20% of the state Department of Transportation (DOT) maintenance budgets. (FHWA)
#15 - Over $2.3 billion is spent every year by state and local agencies for snow and ice control operations. (FHWA)
#16 - On average, about 15% of fatal car accidents occur as a result of adverse weather and/or slick pavement. (FHWA)
#17 - On average, about 19% of all car accidents involving injuries occur as a result of adverse weather and/or slick pavement. (FHWA)
#18 - On average, about 22% of all car accidents involving property damage only occur as a result of adverse weather and/or slick pavement. (FHWA)
#19 - Average traffic volumes on arterial roads can decrease by 15-30% depending on road weather conditions and the time of the day. (FHWA)
#20 - Driving time delays on arterial roadways can increase by 11-50% depending on the severity of the weather conditions. (FHWA)
#21 - When driving in snowy conditions, free-flow speeds can decrease by 5-64%. (FHWA)
#22 - Roughly 23% of the non-recurrent delays on highways around the country are a result of snow, ice, and fog. (FHWA)
#23 - Truckers lose about 32.6 billion vehicle hours as a result of weather-related congestion each year. (FHWA)
#24 - About 12% of all approximated truck delay is a result of poor weather conditions in the 20 cities with the highest volume of truck traffic. (FHWA)
#25 - Among the winter months, December is when the highest number of traffic deaths occur. (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA])
If You Get Hurt, We Can Help
As you know and as the data shows, driving during the winter months can be very dangerous. Accidents can happen easily and injuries are common.
If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, our lawyers at Whiting Hagg & Dorsey, LLP may be able to help you receive the settlement you deserve. Give us a call at (605) 519-6136 or fill out the online contact form.
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