Springtime can see increased rain, leading to the adage, “April showers bring May flowers.” However, spring showers can have an adverse effect on road safety in Missouri, especially when motorists do not adjust their driving behaviors in response to hazardous driving conditions caused by rain. Drivers should understand how spring rain can affect road safety and what steps they can take to reduce their chances of an accident.
How Spring Showers Affect Driving Conditions
Spring rainstorms represent one of the most common causes of motor vehicle accidents. Spring showers can adversely affect driving conditions in several ways, increasing the risk of traffic crashes. Some of the adverse driving conditions caused by spring showers include:
- Reduced tire traction: Wet roads and standing water can reduce or eliminate tire grip, creating a risk of vehicles skidding out of control or hydroplaning (when the tire loses touch with the road surface and rides on top of a puddle of water).
- Longer stopping distances: Wet road surfaces and reduced traction will also increase vehicle stopping distances. However, drivers may not adjust to longer stopping distances by slowing down, potentially leading to rear-end collisions and other auto accidents.
- Decreased visibility: Springtime rain and fog can significantly reduce visibility for drivers. Fog and heavy rain can make seeing far ahead of one’s vehicle difficult. Furthermore, windshield wipers and window defogging/defrosting systems may have trouble keeping vehicle windows clear.
- Potholes and road damage: Rainstorms in the early spring can cause or contribute to road damage, especially when water in the road freezes overnight in the early spring. Furthermore, rainwater can cause further deterioration of road surfaces damaged over the winter, creating potholes and broken pavement, damaging vehicle suspensions and tires or cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.
Missouri Spring Auto Accident Statistics
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, in one recent year, crash statistics for spring months in Missouri included:
- March: 57 fatal crashes, 10,837 total crashes
- April: 76 fatal crashes, 10,965 total crashes
- May: 92 fatal crashes, 12,340 total crashes
- June: 65 fatal crashes, 11,639 total crashes
May had the third-highest rate of fatal accidents in Missouri, behind July and September, and the second-highest rate of total accidents, behind October.
Common Types of Accidents During Spring Showers
Common types of motor vehicle accidents that may occur due to spring showers in Missouri include:
- Rear-end collisions caused by slick road surfaces
- Road departure and sideswipe collisions caused by skidding and hydroplaning
- Intersection actions, including head-on and T-bone collisions, caused by poor visibility
- Pedestrian, bicycle, and motorcycle accidents caused by reduced visibility that makes it harder for drivers to see pedestrians or bikers
Safe Driving Tips in the Rain
Best practices that drivers should follow if they must drive during rainstorms include:
- Slow down below the speed limit, which can help counteract longer stopping distances and help maintain vehicle control
- Increase following distances to give yourself more time to reach
- Use headlights when driving in the rain
- Refrain from using cruise control, as slick roads or hydroplaning can confuse cruise control systems and cause a vehicle to spin out of control
- Stay alert for road hazards, such as black ice, standing water, debris, or broken pavement/potholes
- Maintain brakes, tires, and windshield wipers
Contact a Motor Vehicle Accident Attorney
After a motor vehicle accident in the rain, you need experienced legal guidance to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. Contact Dreyer & Tinney Law Firm today for a free, no-obligation consultation with a knowledgeable auto accident lawyer to discuss your options for pursuing financial recovery and justice.