Traffic accidents are an unfortunate reality of modern life. With road safety, knowledge is power. Wherever you live, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with safety information and potential hazards in your area. If you live in the Rochester area of New York, learning about winter car accidents on I-490 in Rochester, NY, is a protective measure you can take to protect yourself and your family. If you are ever in an accident, Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, can represent your case.
What Makes Winter Driving So Dangerous?
There are always inherent dangers that come with being on the road. However, winter weather conditions can add an extra layer to those hazards. The following are some reasons winter might make driving more dangerous:
- Snow. Snow can often make roadways impassable, especially for cars that do not have four-wheel drive. Aside from the physical accumulation blocking roads, snow can melt and then refreeze, creating icy conditions. Furthermore, falling snow can sometimes severely impact visibility while driving.
- Ice and sleet. Freezing rain, freezing fog, and sleet can quickly build up a layer of ice on a roadway. Sometimes, the ice is difficult to see; the road may look wet instead.
- Shorter days. Nighttime driving is inherently more dangerous. In fact, 50% of all traffic fatalities occur at night, even though nighttime driving represents only 25% of roadway travel.
Because of these winter-related factors that increase the risk of driving, it is important to be extra vigilant when on the road during this season. It is a good idea to keep your headlights on during icy or snowy conditions and travel more slowly than usual. Because other cars may not be able to stop, even if you can, it is also advisable to keep a fair distance between you and other motorists. Also, be sure to pause for a moment before pulling through intersections.
Winter Weather in Rochester, New York
As a major city in the northeast region of the United States, winters in Rochester can be quite cold and snowy. During the months of January and February, the average high temperatures are below freezing, with only a slight warm-up in March.
Rochester gets a lot of snow compared to much of the United States. It is common for snowfall totals from December through March to exceed 60 inches. Freezing rain or moisture that freezes on roadways overnight is even more common, as average lows remain below freezing through March. These weather trends combine to make driving fairly hazardous during the winter months, from December through March.
Accidents on I-490 in Rochester
Interstate 490 is an east-to-west highway that passes just south of Rochester. It connects to the Rochester Inner Loop, which is a freeway that encircles Rochester Center City. Given that it is a very well-traveled commuter highway, it follows that I-490 sees a fair number of traffic accidents. Crashes happen on I-490 near Rochester every day. Residents can check current road conditions and learn information about recent collisions from the Monroe County government.
Several common factors can contribute to highway traffic accidents. These include the following:
- Distracted driving. In this modern world, there are a lot of ever-present distractions in our lives, and that doesn’t stop when we’re driving. Texting, talking on the phone, scrolling social media, or even eating are common distracted behaviors that can result in an accident.
- Speeding. When you’re traveling on the highway at a high speed, surrounded by other people also traveling at high speeds, it can be easy to go too fast without realizing it.
- Lane changes. Highway driving involves a lot more lane changing than urban driving. Lane changes are opportunities for accidents. One moment of distraction, looking the wrong way, or failing to check your blind spot can result in an accident.
FAQs
What Are the Three P’s of Winter Driving?
The Three P’s of winter driving are:
- Prepare for the trip.
- Protect yourself.
- Prevent crashes on the road.
Before you drive during winter, you should have warm clothing, check that your car is in good working order, and plan your route carefully. To protect yourself, observe all road safety and seatbelt laws. To prevent accidents, exercise extra caution, leaving more room than usual in front of you. Also, be especially vigilant about the behavior of other drivers.
What Is the Number One Cause of Winter Car Accidents?
The leading cause of car accidents in the winter is hazardous road conditions brought on by winter weather. These include:
- The presence of black ice
- Snow and sleet on the road and in the air
- Slush and standing water produced by melting snow
Any snow, sleet, slush, or water sitting on the roadway can reduce friction between tires and the road, leading to crashes. They can also hide other potential hazards, such as potholes.
How Many More Accidents Happen in Winter?
It is not necessarily true that more accidents happen in winter. However, certain conditions make driving more hazardous in the winter, and those conditions directly contribute to crashes, injuries, and fatalities each year. Statistically, over 135,000 people are injured each year in the United States due to winter-related road conditions.
What Does Black Ice Look Like?
Usually, black ice simply appears to be a wet patch on a roadway. This is what makes it so dangerous. Ice is often clearly identifiable on a road. Drivers can tell when a roadway is icy because it is white. With black ice, the ice forms a clear layer over the road, which causes a lack of color contrast.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer
Knowing the general condition of the roads where you live can keep you and your family safe. However, if you do get into an accident, make sure to hire a car accident lawyer to handle your recovery. At Gattuso & Ciotoli, PLLC, a Rochester car accident attorney from our team can represent you. Our knowledge of and experience with the state’s car accident laws enable us to seek all the compensation you deserve. If you need a lawyer, contact us to discuss your car accident case.