The real risk factors in cold weather
Drivers tend to believe that snow and ice are the biggest hazards for winter driving. And yet, 9 accidents out of 10* occur on dry or wet roads, rather than road surfaces covered in snow or ice.
Snow can be a hazard, but it’s far from the only one. Even in the winter, nearly 9 out of 10 incidents* occur on a straight road.
How is this phenomenon explained? It’s a question of concentration. Drivers tend to be much more vigilant on hairpin turns and coming out of blind turns, while when driving on straight city roads with good visibility they let their attention wander. As a result, the number of accidents is significantly higher in urban areas.
In conditions like these, your tyres play an even more important role, which is why it is important to equip your car with either winter tyres or all season tyres.
*Road Accident Research Institute (VUFO) - University of Dresden: 12,000 accidents analysed over an average of 12 years.