According to the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, 22 percent of all motor vehicle accidents are attributed, at least in part, to weather. Because of hazardous seasonal conditions, drivers in New Jersey should take extra precautions to drive safely during the winter season. Two of the primary hazards are ice and black ice.
Ice accumulates on the wet roads when the surface temperature falls below the point of freezing. The ice remains on the road in non-freezing temperatures because the ground will get warm at a lower rate than the air. Ice on the road makes it challenging to steer and stop appropriately by making it difficult for tires to get sufficient grip.
Black ice can make navigating the roads even more dangerous. It is a thin coating of ice that will make the roads appear wet instead of ice. Black ice typically forms in the early morning hours or during the nighttime, and it can be challenging for drivers to realize that it is on the road until they have lost control of their vehicle.
Drivers can be proactive with their driving safety by winterizing their vehicles. They can also adjust their driving speed accordingly in uncertain weather and give themselves more time to come to a stop if the roads are wet. Keeping their cell phone handy and giving themselves extra time to get to their intended destination are other ways they can stay safe on the road.
A personal injury attorney may pursue financial damages on behalf a client who was injured in a car accident. A negligent driver may be held liable for head-on collisions, rear-ends and hit-and-run accidents that were caused by improper driving behavior during dangerous weather.
