Ohio Car Insurance

How Winter Weather Affects Drivers’ Safety in Ohio

According to the Ohio Department of Public Safety, there were 27,250 incidents related to snow in 2010. Of these, 41 were fatal, 5,296 caused bodily injury, and 21,688 caused property damage. Sleet, hail, and frozen drizzle added another 1,611 incidents. These types of winter weather incidents can greatly increase insurance premiums for the drivers involved.

Ohio is well-known for its blustery winters, which can see several feet of snow dumped in the region from late fall to early spring. In some cases, the snow may melt rather quickly, while in others it needs to be plowed and will stay on the ground for weeks or possibly all through the winter.

Whether the snow melts quickly or stays on the ground will have a big impact on road conditions. According to The Weather Channel, melting snow can be as much of a road danger as fresh snow that is still frozen. This is largely because fresh snow that is still frozen appears white and can be seen for long distances by drivers.

In contrast, melting snow can later re-freeze if temperatures drop again, as they often do overnight. This frozen ice is often referred to as “black ice” because many times it is not noticeable to the naked eye. If there is black ice on the road, particularly at night, it can cause hydroplaning. Once a car hydroplanes it can crash into other cars, pedestrians, poles, and more. This is an obvious hazard.

Fresh snow is a hazard as well, particularly before workers get a chance to put sand or salt on the road to provide more traction. In the parts of Ohio that get a lot of snow, snow tires are recommended. In fact, some auto insurance companies may provide Ohio drivers with policy discounts if they winterize their car, which includes using snow tires in appropriate weather.

Despite the risk of increased premiums due to weather-related accidents in winter, Ohio remains one of the cheaper states for insurance. For the average driver who is not a teenager and has no accidents on their record, Ohio has consistently been in the top 10 cheapest states for car insurance. This means that at least 40 out of 50 states have average insurance premiums that are higher than those in Ohio.

The key to keeping these auto rates low in snow or similar conditions is to winterize your car. The Weather Channel advises using kitty litter to allow for traction on driveways and other danger areas where black ice can form in winter weather.

Slow down during snow storms and when there is ice or snow on the ground. Be careful going over even the smallest bridges, as all of them can have ice that is hard to see even on clear days. Always keep your lights on during snow storms, even during the day. Be careful though not to blind other drivers with brights. Keep window defrosters on when appropriate and allow for enough time in the morning for your windows to properly defog when necessary. Avoid distractions like cell phones and computers, as driving in winter weather requires the utmost concentration.

Following these rules can help to greatly reduce the chance of a car accident in wintry Ohio weather. This in turn will help keep insurance rates down and help you avoid becoming one of the 27,000+ yearly snow-related accidents.