On the road, you need to watch out for reckless drivers regardless of weather conditions and other factors, such as the time of day. However, it is important to understand when negligent behavior behind the wheel becomes especially dangerous. For example, when visibility is poor due to fog, you should remain especially vigilant and look out for other vehicles.
Unfortunately, some drivers disregard traffic safety guidelines and fail to use common sense during periods of low visibility, causing an accident. All drivers should go over risk factors and data on this issue.
Low visibility and traffic accident risks
The Federal Highway Administration covers weather-related traffic crash risk factors associated with low visibility, such as wind and fog. Dense fog can make it hard for drivers to see the road, other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists. In addition, wind can blow smoke, snow and dust, interfering with visibility.
Heavy rain and snow can also affect visibility, and drivers should exercise caution on poorly-lit roads at night.
Data on traffic crashes during poor visibility
According to FHWA data from 2007 to 2016, more than 25,400 traffic accidents occurred during foggy conditions each year, on average. Moreover, fog-related crashes resulted in an average of over 8,900 injuries and 464 deaths per year during this 10-year period. It is important to remember that these figures do not include accidents that occurred due to other factors that affect visibility.
Regrettably, negligent driving becomes especially dangerous during low visibility. Whether a driver goes too fast, drives drunk, fails to stop or becomes distracted, you should hold them accountable if they caused an accident that left you hurt.