Risks of Summer Driving in Springfield

In Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin and throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, car accidents can happen at any time of the year. However, a personal injury lawyer knows that there are a lot of risk factors during the summer months that make this an especially dangerous time of the year. With summer fast approaching, motorists need to be aware of the risks on the road that this season brings with it.

Risks of Sunny Summer Weather for Drivers

The Mirror recently published a comprehensive summary of 10 of the risks of the road that are associated with summer driving. These include the following dangers:

• More bicycle riding. Drivers need to leave at least three feet when passing bicycles to reduce the risk of a bicyclist being hurt.
• More kids playing outside. Children are one of the two demographic groups with the greatest chance of death in a pedestrian collision. Around 85 percent of pedestrian accident deaths happen in crashes with drivers traveling between 30 and 40 MPH.
• More motorcycle riding. Motorcycle riders are 30 times more likely to die in collisions than people in passenger cars. However, if a motorcycle strikes a car from the side and causes a change in speed of 40 MPH, there’s an 85 percent chance someone in the car will be killed.
• More tractors being moved around. Farm equipment like tractors tends to be moved during the summer, which means more large and unusual equipment on the road.
• More teenagers behind the wheel. Teens with summers off are more likely to drive around. A new teen driver has a one in five chance of getting into a motor vehicle collision within six months of getting a license.
• More deer moving about. Spring and summer are the prime seasons for deer to leave their breeding grounds and move about to look for food.
• More rain after dry spells. If three weeks pass with no rain, there is a 10 percent greater chance of motor vehicle deaths when the first rain arrives. It is actually more risky for rains to be intermittent than for regular rain to occur. Intermittent rain means motorists are used to dry grip and aren’t prepared for suddenly wet weather. A long dry spell also leads to a build-up of diesel, dust and fuel on the roads that becomes slick when rain arrives.
• More growth of plants. When plants become overgrown excess vegetation can impedes driver visibility.
• More tourists on the road. Tourists often get lost, and are focused on their map or GPS device instead of paying careful attention on unfamiliar roads.
• More vehicle breakdowns. Road trips and added summer travel increase the chances of breakdowns. Breakdowns like tire blowouts can cause a car to lose control and can up the risk of a collision as a result.

Drivers can take steps to try to mitigate some of these risk factors, like not driving while distracted. Parents can also talk to teens and children about being traffic dangers. If everyone does their part to try to avoid summer dangers, hopefully this season will be safer and fewer motor vehicle collisions will occur.
Missouri accident victims should contact the offices of Tolbert Beadle LLC at 1-800-887-4030. Serving  Springfield, Columbia, Jefferson City, Joplin and throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri & Oklahoma.