The U.S. Federal Highway Administration has estimated that the vast majority of weather-related crashes happen on wet pavement (70%) and during rainfall (46%). How Do Weather Events Impact Roads? - FHWA Road Weather Management<\/a> . A much smaller percentage of weather-related crashes occur during winter conditions: 18% during snow or sleet, 13% occur on icy pavement and 16% of weather-related crashes take place on snowy or slushy pavement. Only 3% happen in the presence of fog. A wet road surface increases braking distances and makes steering, especially around corners, more difficult. Water on the road surface increases the risk of dynamic hydro- or aquaplaning, when a layer of water can lift a moving tire off the pavement. On roads that have been dry for a long time, a light rain can lead to viscous aquaplaning if drops of oil and dust mix with water to produce a thin liquid film on the road surface. During winter, ice on the road surface greatly increases braking distances and the risk of drivers skidding out of control.\u00a0Black ice<\/em>\u00a0is a thin transparent layer of ice that takes on the colour of the road surface and is difficult to detect. Black ice forms when temperatures climb above freezing, melting some snow, and then drops again. Black ice can also form from dew or fog when temperatures drop below the freezing point.<\/p>\n Weather also negatively affects drivers\u2019 ability to clearly see the road environment. Heavy rain and snow, especially when combined with strong winds, or fog can reduce visibility to the point where driving at the posted legal speed may be unsafe because braking distances will exceed the distance the driver can see ahead. Strong crosswinds combined with icy roads make steering difficult, especially for long trucks. Precipitation can reduce visibility in passenger vehicles from water splashing on the windshield from passing trucks, high humidity during rain can fog up windshields and windows, and at night, glare can increase from the headlights of oncoming vehicles reflecting on wet road surfaces.<\/p>\n Despite the driving challenges created by adverse weather conditions, crash risks can be successfully reduced through safer driver behaviour. Specifically, drivers need to prepare themselves and their vehicles for adverse weather conditions and continuously exercise greater caution while driving by reducing speed and increasing space between their vehicle and other road users.<\/p>\n Public awareness of driving risks is a prerequisite for successful crash prevention. All road users (i.e., drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians) need to be mindful of the reduced traction for vehicles and reduced visibility for drivers during adverse weather. As an example, drivers are at risk of crashing while attempting to pass snowplows on the highway and pedestrians at city intersections have been injured by snowplows whose operators have difficulty seeing them.<\/p>\n Drivers should have winter tires fitted on their vehicles from December 1 to March 15. Quebec requires snow tires (Quebec law requiring snow tires in the winter - Search<\/a>)<\/p>\n The following websites list best practices for driving under adverse weather conditions:<\/p>\nCountermeasures:<\/h2>\n
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