Car accidents in Oregon and around the country that take place on roadways covered in snow, ice or slush claim over 1,300 lives and injure more than 116,800 road users every year according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, but there are steps drivers can take to greatly reduce their chances of being involved in a winter crash. Motorists should obey speed limits and maintain safe distances at all times, but giving other vehicles ample room and slowing down is especially important when weather conditions are treacherous.
Traffic accident risks go up in fall when clocks go back an hour
The end of daylight saving time ushers in a season for increased risks for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists in Oregon. Shifting clocks back one hour allows people to get an extra hour of sleep on that weekend, but the disturbance to their sleeping and waking cycles raises the possibility of drowsy driving in the following weeks. A report from an insurance organization in the Pacific Northwest identified an increase in collisions during afternoon commutes two weeks following the clock change.
