Purdue Study: Wet Roads Are More Dangerous Than Many Drivers Think

A study released in 2011 by Purdue University civil engineering professor Fred Mannering looked at single-car wrecks in Indiana that took place on dry pavement, wet conditions, and snowy or icy roadways over a two-year period. To his surprise, he found that men 45 or older were at higher risk for serious injury or death on snow and ice, while women were more likely to face serious injury and death on rain-slick roads. The study also found that young men were most likely to suffer serious accidents on dry roads. Why would this be?

Mannering believes that there are some psychological factors at play. For example, he believes that young men are more likely to keep aggressive driving behaviors in check in adverse conditions, but then underestimate the potential for danger on a road that is not affected by weather or climate.

Keeping this data in mind, as our Indianapolis car accident attorney explains, when roads are compromised by weather in Indiana, it is usually due to rain, whether it is summer, spring, fall, or winter.

Reducing Inclement Weather Accidents in Indiana

How can you help reduce your chances of an Indiana car accident during a rainstorm or while driving on wet roads? Try the following wet road safety tips:

1. Slow down.
2. Don’t make sudden movements with your steering wheel.
3. Don’t brake suddenly. It can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
4. Turn on your headlights, both to increase your visibility and to make your vehicle more visible.
5. Don’t be afraid to pull into a parking lot in heavy rain and wait for the storm to subside.
6. Realize that pedestrians and wildlife are much more difficult to see in rainy conditions.
7. Put even more room between you and the vehicle in front of you, as all cars and trucks take longer to stop in wet conditions.
8. Never drive through moving water or deep puddles.
9. Make sure you keep your windshield wipers in working order at all times.
10. Make sure that your tire treads are not overly worn.
11. Realize that driving in rainy or wet conditions can cause driver fatigue more quickly than driving in fair weather.
12. If it is raining hard before you leave the house, consider delaying your trip until the roads are safer.