September: The Deadliest Month to Drive

According to a common misconception, summer is the season that causes the most car accidents. People believe that even though the weather is more predictable and safe in summer, certain factors like extreme heat, engine overheating, and dehydrated drivers can be the reasons behind a deadly accident.

However, this concept is not entirely true because September is, in fact, the deadliest month to drive. Which makes fall the most dangerous month for driving.

What Makes Fall the Greatest Cause of Driving Accidents?

Fall is indeed a welcome change from the warm weather of June and July. People love to celebrate the cooler temperature and changing leaves’ colors. However, the onset of a fall also invites potential dangers on the road that can cause serious and even fatal accidents.

When driving in the city or on the highway during the fall, we recommend our readers keep a close eye on the road. You need to practice maximum additional precautions, such as driving at a safe speed or being attentive to the driving patterns of other motorists. In this way, you can save yourself and other members of your vehicle from any serious accident.

Here are the top 3 reasons why September is the deadliest month to drive;

Back-to-School Season

Between August and September, a huge crowd of students is heading back to schools and colleges. In the USA and even in other parts of the world, schools get summer vacations that last long. And the schools and colleges reopen in August and September. This sudden onset of the back-to-school season can be unexpected for some drivers, as they have adjusted their driving routines to children-free zones, especially on roads near schools.

Many drivers fail to understand that in September, school buses and parents’ cars will flood the school grounds’ curb, and there will be lots of children crossing the streets. Even though the school zones require drivers to slow down their speeds when entering the region, many people fail to do so, which can lead to terrible accidents.

Here is what you must practice, as a responsible driver, to save yourself and others from deadly accidents in September;

Maintain slower speeds around school zones, especially at the times when children are arriving or leaving the school.
Make way, slow down, or stop altogether for the school buses that are picking up or dropping children at school.
Adjust your driving speeds and accommodate the parents that are waiting to receive their children.
Keep a close eye on the children crossing the streets.
Make a complete stop when you reach a stop sign.
Pay keen attention and obey instructions from crossing guards.
Try not to block the crosswalks.
Stop your vehicle as soon as the flashing lights of school buses activate.
Never try to drive around a stopped school bus.
Wait for the school bus to start moving again before driving.

Extreme Weather and Rain Conditions

During fall, expect to experience frequent changes in weather patterns. One day can be bright and sunny, and the next one could be rainy and cold. Drivers might fail to adjust to the effects of such a season on their driving skills, which can make their driving extremely difficult and dangerous. For example, during the fall months, the sun appears lower in the sky. This makes the roads difficult to see due to the sun’s glare.

Fall also brings lots of rain, which can cause damage to the roads and localized flooding too. The cleanup crews try to clear away the drains and roads as soon as possible. But if the water pools on the road and creates a slippery surface, it can lead to car sliding incidents and potential crashes.

Fog and snow are another great concern for drivers in the fall. The changes in temperature can be frequent, which creates a heavy fog. The fog makes it very difficult to see on the road, especially during the morning. This means that drivers must slow down their vehicles and pay extra attention on the road and to their surroundings. Snow causes trouble in driving during the late fall months. The cold temperatures may settle in quicker in most states than others, which brings snow earlier than expected. Drivers who are not skilled to drive on icy roads can be very dangerous during September.

Other Factors

Do you know that according to the rate of fatalities per hundred million miles, September is the deadliest month to drive per million miles of driving, coming at around 1.202 deaths?

Snow, fog, and back-to-school season are one of the few reasons which make September so deadly. But falling leaves and debris also cause crashes on their own. Falling leaves can become wet, making the roads as slippery as rain and snow can make. This means that driving on wet fallen leaves can be as dangerous as driving on ice. This means that when you see a road with fallen leaves, drive slower and with extra precaution.

Besides fallen leaves, debris and high winds can also be the reason behind severe and fatal car crashes. The wind blowing large broken branches or debris on the roads and vehicles can cause the drivers to swerve, potentially crashing into others on the road and causing serious car accidents.

Furthermore, blowing debris can also put sudden and large obstacles on the road. This makes it likely that drivers will lose control of their vehicles. Higher wind gusts can make any loose item a projectile, thus endangering the lives of every driver and passenger on the road. Road debris can also cause blown-out tires and crashes. An unsuspected driver can suddenly try to swerve out of the way of a large piece of debris on the road or objects flying towards him. This can lead to severe car accidents.

Conclusion

September is a dangerous month to drive. Drivers can face a lot of challenges on the road, which can make them, as well as their passenger’s journey, more risky. If you or someone around you gets involved in a motor vehicle accident, our car accident lawyers at Rob Levine & Associates can help you hold accountable those at fault and also assist you in other cases. Contact us now.