Danger – Driving in the Rain is More Dangerous than You Think

 

Hi, this is Seth Smiley from the Smiley Law Firm, and today in the Parents of Teen Drivers Facebook Group, we are discussing something which might seem obvious but has some surprising information. We are talking about the fact that driving in the rain is more dangerous than you think.

When I researched this topic, I was surprised that the statistics were way worse than I thought. For teenage drivers or any drivers, driving in the rain is far more dangerous than any other type of condition. One reason is that rain is so frequent that ice, snow, and other conditions are also dangerous, but not as deadly as they don’t occur as often.

Clearly, dry weather is the safest, but statistics show that overall fatalities go up by 34% when it rains. This is huge!

There is a study that states whenever there is light rain, the accident rate goes up by 25 to 30%. In moderate rainfall, the rate goes up by 75%, and during heavy rain, crashes increase by 250%, which is 2.5 times the regular crash rate.

So you should educate your children, and yourself, about the risks of driving in wet weather. You should make sure your cars are properly equipped. Check that the tires are right and inflated correctly and that the treading on them is still good. You should remind your teen driver to stay within the speed limit and be extra cautious.

One tip I use is to put Rain-x on the windshield, as it helps with visibility. Teach your kids about braking too quickly in the rain and the dangers of hydroplaning.

So, driving is undoubtedly more dangerous in the rain, so make sure everyone is aware of the risks and takes proper precautions.

If you have any stories or insights about driving in the rain, please comment below.

Thank you.