Every year, the roads of Arkansas transform into unpredictable battlegrounds as drivers face the whims of the state’s capricious weather.
Under clear skies, highways hum with the routine of daily commutes, but as sudden downpours lash the asphalt, those same roads morph into perilous gauntlets. Ice storms sneak in without warning, blanketing even the most familiar routes in a slick, deadly veneer.
These weather-related road crashes are more than mere disruptions. They are an escalating menace that jeopardizes the lives and safety of Arkansans, demanding our immediate and unwavering attention.
In 2023, this threat became alarmingly tangible. The state recorded a surge in weather-induced accidents, resulting in a tragic toll of injuries, fatalities, and staggering economic costs.
Earlier in January this year, a news article revealed several road accidents taking place across central Arkansas due to snow and winter weather. Two of them took place in Little Rock – one along the I-630 in Pulaski County, and the other on I-40, impacting westbound traffic.
Another I-40 accident occurred near Atkins, impacting the eastbound traffic. A Highway 367 accident, also caused by the snow, was followed by another one on Highway 67 in Jacksonville, near exit 6. What’s even more surprising is that all these accidents happened within hours of each other.
With climate change ushering in more frequent weather events, the resilience of Arkansas’s road infrastructure and the readiness of its drivers are under scrutiny.
To ignore this growing danger is to gamble with lives and livelihoods. In this article, we will delve deeper into the factors contributing to weather-related road crashes in Arkansas.
Factors Contributing to Weather-Related Crashes in Arkansas
When discussing weather-related crashes in Arkansas, we’re not just addressing snow-covered roads. The Natural State is also a hub of heavy downpours, thick fogs, and strong winds. Below, we’ll attempt to understand how these phenomena lead to road crashes:
Rain and Wet Roads
Rainfall, a frequent companion of Arkansas’s weather patterns, transforms the state’s scenic roads into treacherous pathways fraught with hidden dangers. As raindrops begin to fall, they set in motion a chain of events that compromises road safety.
The first few moments of rain are deceptively perilous. The water mixes with oil, grease, and debris accumulated on the asphalt, creating a slick film that can surprise even the most cautious drivers.
A similar incident was reported in the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette earlier this month, which declared Joshua Royce dead in a road crash. Royce, a 32-year-old resident of Heber Springs, was riding his Kawasaki on Arkansas Highway 124 on the night of May 4.
Around 9:02 PM, Royce’s bike left the road near Quitman and crashed into a culvert, ejecting him in the process. The trooper investigating the crash revealed that the weather was cloudy at the time of the accident, with the roads wet.
The most insidious threat posed by rain is hydroplaning, a phenomenon where a thin layer of water separates tires from the road surface. In this fleeting yet perilous moment, drivers lose all control, their vehicles gliding uncontrollably as if on ice. Hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 35 mph, making it a threat on both bustling highways and quiet backroads.
This sudden loss of traction is especially dangerous on highways, where fast-moving vehicles have little time to react, often resulting in catastrophic accidents.
Rogers, located in the Ozarks, receives a significant amount of rainfall, with months between March and August being the wettest in the year. Keith Law Group notes that these downpours, combined with the city’s busy roads, are bound to lead to traffic crashes.
If you’re ever caught up in one such accident and suffer injuries without any fault of your own, you’re entitled to compensation for the same. This compensation can come through filing a personal injury lawsuit.
If all that sounds too complicated, it might be a good idea to hire a Rogers car accident lawyer who can simplify it for you. They’re well-equipped to handle the legal aspects of such lawsuits and will ensure you get the settlement you deserve.
Snow and Ice
Winter in Arkansas, while typically milder than in its northern counterparts, can transform the state’s roadways into ice rinks at an alarming speed. When snow begins to fall, it brings a serene, picturesque beauty, but also a lurking danger.
As the snow compacts under the weight of vehicles, it morphs into ice, a transformation that turns scenic drives into treacherous endeavors. The roads, now cloaked in a deceptive white blanket, hide a slippery, unforgiving layer beneath.
The reduced tire traction on snow and ice means that even the most routine driving maneuvers require extra caution. A gentle curve can become a sliding hazard, and a mild incline can turn into a slippery slope.
The difficulty in controlling a vehicle on icy roads is compounded by the fact that many drivers in Arkansas are not accustomed to such conditions. Unlike regions where winter driving skills are second nature, Arkansans often face these challenges with less experience and preparedness.
Fog and Reduced Visibility
In the heart of Arkansas, fog often rolls in like an uninvited ghost, shrouding the landscape in an eerie, opaque mist.
Especially common in low-lying areas near rivers and lakes, a thick blanket of fog can reduce visibility, transforming familiar roads into disorienting labyrinths. The world becomes a shadowy, indistinct blur, where road signs and traffic signals seem to vanish into the gray abyss.
Driving through this murky veil is akin to navigating through a dreamlike state where the usual visual cues are muted or completely hidden. Vehicles and obstacles emerge suddenly from the fog, giving drivers scant time to react. This sudden appearance can lead to panic or delayed responses, increasing the likelihood of collisions.
It’s also worth noting that the source of this reduced visibility isn’t always necessarily fog. In November last year, the smoke from a brush fire near the northeast Arkansas highway reduced the visibility of drivers traveling on it.
The resulting reduced visibility led to a multiple-vehicle pile-up accident in Jackson County, resulting in two spot deaths and seven severe injuries. The Arkansas State Police reported that 4 commercial and 11 passenger vehicles were involved in the pile-up accident.
Wind and Debris
In Arkansas, the winds can howl with a ferocity that turns a simple drive into a white-knuckle ordeal. High winds, seemingly capricious and malevolent, can rock vehicles and test the mettle of even the most experienced drivers.
The impact of these gales is most pronounced on high-profile vehicles like trucks, vans, and SUVs. Their larger surface area acts like a sail, making them particularly vulnerable to being pushed off course.
A strong gust can shove a vehicle across lanes or, in extreme cases, cause it to tip over, especially when it’s carrying a heavy load or moving at high speeds.
Moreover, wind often conspires with other weather conditions to create a perfect storm of driving hazards. Blowing snow can create whiteout conditions, reducing visibility to near zero and making roads slick and treacherous.
Rain can be driven horizontally by the wind, drenching windshields and making it difficult to see. These combined effects significantly reduce traction, making it harder for vehicles to maintain their grip on the road.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the steepest road in Arkansas?
Highway 155 – which connects Mount Nebo State Park to Dardanelle – is the steepest road in Arkansas. As the highway winds down the mountain, its steep grades and handful of hairpin curves become quite deadly. The route is quite popular among motorcycle riders.
Are snow-related road accidents common in the USA?
Yes, you can call them somewhat common. According to the US Federal Highway Administration, 21% of the 5.9 million car crashes that occur in the country every year are weather-related. Over half a million of these crashes are caused by slushy or icy pavements, snow, and sleet.
Who is at fault in a weather-related car accident?
While weather conditions are considered while determining who is at fault in a car accident, it doesn’t take away the liability from the driver. If the drivers are found guilty of not driving safely at the time of the accident, they’ll be held responsible for it.
The bottom line is that the threat of weather-related car accidents poses a unique problem that can’t be measured or controlled by drivers. The growing unpredictability of weather conditions globally, and in Arkansas, further elevates this threat.
In the face of it, all we can do is behave as responsibly as drivers and passengers as possible to keep ourselves safe. This includes following traffic rules thoroughly, keeping distracted driving at bay, and checking weather forecasts before planning drives.
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