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Poor Road Conditions Responsible For Fatal Accident
An unidentified driver was killed in an automobile accident in Jefferson Maryland when his vehicle went off of the wet roads of MD Hwy 464. Police are withholding the driver’s name pending notification of next of kin.
The Herald-Mail reports that the 2008 Mitsubishi was westbound on MD 464 near Lander road when it encountered standing water on the road and apparently began hydroplaning. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crossed into the eastbound lane before going off the road, striking, several trees, and ejecting its passenger.
The driver was pronounced dead at the scene by local fire department personnel.
The Dangers of Wet Roads
Driving in poor weather and on wet roads can be very dangerous. Hydroplaning can occur as lower speeds than most people believe. It occurs when the tires of an automobile lose contact with the road and cause the car to actually travel along on the water.
If you believe you are hydroplaning, you should release the accelerator and try to hold the car steady until you regain contact with the road. Braking hard or steering sharply may result in a loss of control of the vehicle and could result in an accident.
Tips for Avoiding Car Accidents on Wet Roads
When roads have standing water, drivers should always use sound judgment and go slower than the posted speed limit. Police officers can still issue tickets for driving the posted speed limit when conditions are severe and they believe a driver is going too fast given the circumstances.
As you may remember from your driver’s ed class, soaking wet roads are not as dangerous as freshly wet roads. When rain first begins to fall, it mixes with oils and other fluids on roads, potentially making them dangerously slick. Always pay close attention to your particular road conditions in order to avoid accidents, do not blindly follow posted speed signs.
