Winter Driving Stats and Facts

FACTS

1. Dangers include sudden heavy snowstorms that affect road visibility and damp sleet that turns the roads both icy and slippery. 
2. In winter, the temperature drops, and this can stiffen the rubber and affect tire pressure in winter tires.
3. Icy road fatalities account for more deaths than all other weather hazards combined.
4. USA Today found the deadliest times of day for winter car accidents in 2015: 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. According to the report, Saturday was the deadliest day (286 deaths), but Friday was a close second (197 deaths).
5. According to a study done by the FHWA, non-fatal injuries and property damage incidents increase significantly when it snows, but fatal crashes decline.
6. Almost half a million car accidents each year are due to winter storms, wet road conditions, and general bad weather. 
7. Heavy rain, thick fog, or consistent snow can reduce driver visibility almost instantaneously. Heavy snow specifically can slow traffic speeds more than 60% of their regular speed limit.

STATS

• Over 70% of US roads are in snowy regions.
• 17% of all vehicle crashes happen in winter conditions.
• 1,836 people die annually due to snowy and icy pavement.
• Over 116,800 people get injured in car accidents on snowy or icy roads every year.
• About 70% of accidental fatalities that occur during winter happen in cars.
• 156,164 auto crashes occur annually due to icy roads, federal data shows (FHWA).
• Driving on snowy roads can take your car 10 times longer to stop completely (AAA).
• Nearly 2000 people die and over 135,000 people are injured each year due to car accidents on icy and snowy roads.