What type of driving weather is most dangerous in Madison County?

As we write this, the weather forecast for Edwardsville is that the temperature will get up to 73 degrees tomorrow, while the high for tomorrow is projected to be a mere 38. As long-time residents understand, it’s not unusual for our weather to swing from one extreme to another — sometimes in the course of a single day.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the most dangerous weather here in Madison County is, believe it or not, clear weather. In a breakdown of motor vehicle crashes resulting in injuries in the most recent year for which data is available, there were far more accidents on clear days than in any type of inclement weather. Of course, that stands to reason: there are more clear days here than any other.

So which type of bad weather is most dangerous? In 2015 in Madison County, there were 151 motor vehicle wrecks involving injury in rain. There were 14 crashes involving injuries in snow, 10 in fog and 28 on overcast days.

The most dangerous time of day for injury crashes in the county was between 3 pm and 6 pm. The fewest accidents were recorded between 3 am and 5 am, according to the Division of Traffic Safety data.

Drivers impaired by alcohol accounted for 79 wrecks involving injuries (and 6 fatal accidents), while drug-impaired drivers were in 10 injury crashes (and another half-dozen fatal accidents).

Fatigued drivers were in 22 injury wrecks, while medicated drivers were in four that year.

If you have been hurt in a car accident caused by reckless, distracted or impaired driver, you can contact the Johnston Law Offices P.C., to discuss vigorous pursuit of maximum compensation.