Heavy Rains Increase Car Accident Risks In Daytona

Heavy rains and tropical storms are a fact of life in the summer in Daytona. There is also the risk of hurricanes to worry about and 2020 is no exception. In addition to the other types of havoc they wreak, these storms have the potential to create major road hazards, increasing the risk of car accidents. This year, be aware of the dangers and the steps you need to take to protect yourself.

Busy Hurricane Season In 2020

The 2020 hurricane season is forecast to be a busy one. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is forecasting anywhere between 19-25 named storms, which is well over the usual 12. There has already been a significant amount of tropical storm and hurricane activity in the Atlantic while the official season is expected to last until late November.

Daytona residents are accustomed to these risks. While weather reports often seem overblown, it is important to be aware of the very real dangers summer storms can pose. Drivers are among those most impacted by heavy winds and rainy conditions. These can make roads treacherous while causing traffic tie-ups, increasing the likelihood of crashes and collisions.

Rainy Weather Increases Car Accident Risks

Adverse weather can play a major role in car accidents. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), weather is a factor in more than 20 percent of the estimated six million crashes that occur on roads throughout the country each year. Of these, more than half can be directly attributed to wet, rainy conditions.

While there are obvious dangers to consider when driving in a hurricane, even a light rain can make roads treacherous. It decreases driver visibility, traction, and the ability to make sudden stops or other movements while increasing the likelihood of traffic delays. All of this combines to make car accidents more likely to happen. When driving in these types of conditions, it is important to take the following precautions:

Adjust your speed: Go at or even below the speed limit, as needed.
Prepare to stop: Allow additional time for applying the brakes.
Avoid tailgating: Give other drivers plenty of space, as wet roads make skidding more likely to happen.
Stay focused on the road: Avoid driving distractions such as talking on cell phones or changing GPS settings.
Avoid staring directly at lights: Wet weather causes increased glare. Staring directly at headlights, tail lights, or lamp posts could cause momentary blindness.
Pull over if it pours: If it is raining so hard it obstructs your vision, pull over until it passes.
Beware of puddles: Be extremely cautious in going through puddles on the road, which may contain deeper water than they appear.
Obey roadblocks: Do not attempt to go through areas blocked off, as sudden flooding could be a danger.

Let Us Help You Today

At Bundza & Rodriguez, P.A., we help you get the compensation you need to recover when car accidents happen. To discuss your case, call or contact our Daytona Beach car accident attorneys online today and request a consultation.

Resource:

noaa.gov/media-release/extremely-active-hurricane-season-possible-for-atlantic-basin

https://www.daytonalawyers.com/fay-a-sign-of-how-dangerous-tropical-storms-can-be/