A study by researchers at the University of California at Berkeley shows that if two days of dry weather precede a rainfall, the rate of fatal crashes increases by 3 percent. If it rained after 20 dry days, the rate rises by 9 percent.
The increase is caused when oil and debris collect on the road during dry weather. It then mixes with rain to make a slippery film on the road.
To avoid an accident, remember the fundamental rules for driving in rain: Go slower, stay farther behind the car ahead, and avoid sharp turns at high speeds.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
