When It Rains, It Kills – Warning To Yorkshire Drivers

Tuesday, 29 November 2016 07:00

Drivers are being urged to slow down when it’s raining after 15 people were killed and 210 were seriously injured in Yorkshire and the Humber when driving in the rain last year

Highways England is launching a new safety campaign warning drivers that ‘when it rains, it kills’ after the latest statistics showed that people are 30 times more likely to be killed or seriously injured on the roads in rain than in snow.

The figures also reveal that travelling too fast for the current conditions was identified as a factor in 1 in 9 road deaths in Great Britain last year, with drivers failing to alter how they drive in response to changing conditions on the road.

Highways England is warning that even driving within the speed limit in wet weather could be dangerous if drivers don’t allow extra space between them and the vehicle in front. And the message is being reinforced with rain-activated paint messages visible to people leaving motorway services when it is raining.

Highways England’s Head of Road Safety, Richard Leonard, said:

“Most of us already slow down in snow, ice or fog but when it rains we consider it normal so don’t adapt our driving.”

“Rain makes it harder for tyres to grip the road and harder for drivers to see ahead – significantly increasing the chances of being involved in a collision. We’ve launched our new campaign to make drivers aware of the dangers and to stay safe.”

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