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| Global Climate Change Impacts and Road Safety in the U.S. |
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Global climate change and its impact on the environment has been a topic of growing concern. Numerous organizations such as the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) - to name a few - have made increasing efforts to educate the public about the detrimental state of our environment.
From droughts to floods, increases in temperatures to rising sea levels - these have already begun to take place in many regions across the nation. |
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According to the USGCRP Report, Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, "Precipitation has increased an average of about 5% over the past 50 years. Projections of future precipitation generally indicate that northern areas will become wetter, and southern areas, particularly in the West, will become drier"1.
One of the clearest precipitation trends in the United States is the increasing frequency and intensity of heavy downpours. "The amount of rain falling in the heaviest downpours has increased |
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approximately 20% on average in the past century, and this trend is very likely to continue, with the greatest increases in the wettest places"1.
For regions that are experiencing greater precipitation levels, road safety becomes an issue. Reduced visibility, loss of vehicle maneuverability and control, and lack of road friction all contribute to higher accident rates. |
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| Increased Risk of Accidents During Rainstorms |
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In 2001, over 1.1 million crashes occurred on wet pavement, resulting in nearly 5,400 deaths and 511,000 injuries. An additional 688,304 crashes occurred when it was raining, resulting in over 3,200 deaths and nearly 309,000 injuries2. Studies have shown the increased accident rate in such conditions is due to the fact that rain is not as much a deterrent to road travel as snow or freezing rain. Simply, people are more exposed to driving in the rain and they believe they are able to safeguard |
Reduced visibility, loss of vehicle maneuverability and control, and lack of road friction contribute to higher accident rates during rainstorms.
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their risks more easily than when driving in other types of weather conditions (like snow, freezing rain, or hail storms).
Interesting Statistics from Around the World:3
- Australian research into the effects of rain on the traffic volume in Melbourne and surroundings found that, after correction for traffic volume, there was an average crash rate increase of 2.4%. During the night when it was raining, the crash rate even increased by 5.2% (Keay & Simmonds, 2005).
- Canadian research in the 1979 - 1983 period found a 75% higher crash rate during rainfall. This increase was particularly sharp during the first hours of rainfall (Andrey & Yagar, 1991).
- Swiss research of driving speed and crash rate during rainfall, after correction for exposure, found that during rainy daylight hours, in spite of slower driving, the crash rate was 2.5 times larger on non-motorways and 5 times larger on motorways (Thomas, 1993). At night-time, these crash rates again more than doubled, to 6 times and 11 times larger respectively.
- German research during the 1970s also showed that the wet, night-time crash rate was nearly twice as large as that during wet, daylight hours (Brühning et al., 1978).
As studies have shown, crash rates increase during rainy weather conditions and those numbers continue to climb as nightfall approaches. The size of the crash rate does however depend on, among others, the speed limit, the day of the week, and the time of day.
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| Traffic Control Devices That Can Be Installed in Rain or Shine |
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We have written several past newsletters (see our March 2008 Newsletter) on the need for traffic control devices and the importance of installing such solutions on private property. Generally speaking, parking facilities are dangerous driving environments; but, factor in weather conditions and they become even more hazardous. As precipitation levels rise in regions across the United States, crash rates can be expected to escalate as well if no measures are taken to safeguard both drivers and pedestrians. |
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Recycled rubber traffic safety devices, such as speed bumps, speed humps, and alley bumps - can be installed in rain or shine - and help to enforce lower driving speeds. By forcing drivers to travel at a minimum, reaction time increases thus helping to prevent collisions.
GNR Technologies is a leading manufacturer of traffic control solutions that can be installed immediately and |
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can be used for temporary and / or permanent use in parking facilities. These highly visible devices are easy-to-install and do not require complete road closures or ideal weather conditions to install: |
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Help prevent accidents before it's too late. For more information about our product-line or our Distribution Opportunity, please give us a call at: 1-800-641-4143, send us an email, or visit our website to learn more. |
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References:
1. http://downloads.globalchange.gov/usimpacts/pdfs/climate-impacts-report.pdf
2. http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=10893&page=18
3. http://www.swov.nl/rapport/Factsheets/UK/FS_Influence_of_weather.pdf
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GNR Technologies
990 Upton
LaSalle, QC H8R 2T9 |
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