Weather-related vehicle crashes kill 6,253 people and injure more than 480,000 each year according to a press release from the Department of Transportation on Tuesday. Most of these accidents occur when the roadways are wet, snowy, or icy.
The Department of Transportation urges drivers to take precaution if they must be out on the roadways this winter. If the asphalt appears to be wet and the temperature is near freezing, please slow down.
Dangerous roadways are not the only hazards drivers may experience during winter. Brutal cold, heavy snow and ice, dangerous flooding, extreme wind, and fog may also create extreme danger.
NOAA's National Weather Service also provided the following tips to stay safe this winter:
Know your risk; check weather.gov every morning before you leave home. It may be sunny in the morning but snowy in the afternoon. Be prepared.
Take action; prepare for an emergency. Write a family communications plan so that everyone in your life knows how to stay in touch. Also, assemble an emergency supplies kit for your home. Make sure you have 72 hours of food, water, and other necessary supplies in your kit. During a snow emergency, stay off the roads to allow emergency crews uninterrupted access to treat the roads, and if you must travel, allow extra time. Follow weather.gov to get the latest forecast information and expected conditions.
Be a force of nature; let people know that you have an emergency supplies kit and family communications plan. Share your preparedness story on social media. Help the National Weather Service build a weather-ready nation.
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