WY Tops List for Winter Fatalities | Big Horn Basin Media

Wyoming Tops List for Fatal Winter Crashes

Written by on December 18, 2018

Floods and tornadoes may get all the headlines, but neither is the deadliest weather hazard.
Driving in winter weather results in thousands of lives lost every year in the United States – and Wyoming tops the list of the most fatal accidents per capita in the country.
The organization SafeWise has compiled numbers showing that in 2016, floods and tornadoes were responsible for a combined 144 weather-related fatalities across the US. That same year, more than 2,800 lives were lost due to snow and rain on American roads.²
SafeWise points out that in Wyoming, an average of 1.5 out of every 100,000 drivers will be in a fatal crash while driving in snow this winter. Vermont is next on the list, at .8, with Montana and Idaho close behind at .7.
The organization points out that there are ways to protect yourself before and during winter driving. Make sure to check the tires, wipers, fluids, lights, and indicators to ensure that they’re in working order and ready for wet, snowy, icy, or slushy roads. Always clear ice and snow completely before putting your car into “Drive.” Buckle up, and turn lights on for safety. Always use your turn signals, and stay about twenty seconds behind other cars in case you have to stop suddenly.


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