Chicago Accident and Injury Lawyer Blog

A Purdue University study, The Effects of Road-Surface Conditions, Age and Gender on Driver-Injury Severities, recently concluded that "men over age 45 are much more likely to crash their vehicles on icy and snowy roads" as reported by the Chicago Tribune. Since winter driving season has now arrived, this is important news to share. The study also concluded that car crash risks increase with older male drivers of pickup trucks. According to the Purdue University News Service, the study was "based on an analysis of 2007-2008 police report crash data of 23,431 Indiana drivers."

The problem with pickup trucks, as identified by the study, was that pickup truck drivers (and most drivers of vehicles with four-wheel drive capabilities) have a misplaced "sense of invulnerability." While four-wheel drive is helpful for driving in snowy conditions, it is important to know that it does not result in faster stop times. However, snowy road conditions are not the only issue. The study states that men under 45 years old also are also "more likely to get into serious accidents on dry roads, perhaps because of overconfidence."

Turning to female drivers, the study reported that "[w]omen 45 and older were more than four times more likely to be severely injured on wet road surfaces than when driving on dry road surfaces, and women younger than 45 were nearly three times more likely. Women in the older category also had a 44 percent higher chance of being severely injured on rain-slick interstate highways compared to other roads." Study pinpoints dangerous driving conditions for men, women.

As Chicago car crash attorneys, we know that regardless of a driver's gender, it is important to appreciate road and weather conditions and not fall into the trap of feeling overconfident when driving large SUVs or vehicles with four-wheel drive capabilities, especially during the winter. The Purdue University study highlights how many factors, such as road conditions and driver attitude, can cause car crashes. At all times, drivers must closely assess road conditions and how they can affect reaction times.

The Chicago accident and injury lawyers at the Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll suggest these helpful tips for driving in winter conditions:

- Slow down!
- Allow yourself plenty of room to stop; do not follow too closely.
- Avoid skidding by braking gently.
- Turn on your headlights, even during daylight hours.
- Scrap all ice and snow off of your lights, windshield, mirrors and windows before driving.
- Use low gears to maintain traction.
- Remember that bridges and overpasses freeze faster than the roads.
- Use caution.