Why driving in summer is actually more dangerous than winter

When I turned 16 and could officially take my road test, I waited until the following summer to learn how to drive — despite being eligible to get my licence in January. So, why did I decide to wait? The reason was simple: summer seemed like a safer time to learn how to drive.

But I was woefully misinformed, as are a lot of Canadians. Deadly collisions actually occur more often during the summer months than the winter.

On the surface, it’s normal to think summer is the safer driving season. Warm weather means no snow or ice on the road. Less precipitation means better overall visibility and traction in most situations. On top of all that, you don’t have to deal with inconveniences like scraping  ice off your windows or shoveling your car out of the snow.

However, it has been well documented throughout Canada and the United States that more people die in collisions during the hot summer months. For example, looking at the Ministry of Transportation Ontario collision data, nearly 50% more fatalities occur in the summer months (June, July, August, September) than in the winter months (December, January, February, March).

Interestingly enough, even though summer is the deadlier part of the year, winter is still the worst for injury collisions. Let’s break down why more collisions happen in winter, but why more fatalities occur in summer.

Long weekend road trips are a factor

Summer road trips are a timeless summer activity, especially after a long, grey winter. With the Victoria Day long weekend just behind us, road trip season has officially begun.

While summer road trips can save you time and money as a vacation option, they can also put you at greater risk of collision than day-to-day driving. Road trips are often accompanied by a spike in drunk driving arrests, and police forces do their best to deter the public from making bad decisions ahead of time with press releases and public awareness campaigns.

Teenagers and young people are especially vulnerable to danger on the road. The excitement of being out of school and away from home with friends leads to more thrill-seeking behaviour, including driving while intoxicated. The 2015 Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey by CAMH found that 10% of drivers in grades 10 to 12 have driven within one hour of smoking marijuana at least once within the past year. Another 4% had alcohol before driving. Distracted driving, however, is very prevalent among adolescents, with 35% reporting that they have texted while driving at least once during the past year.

Adverse road conditions are less deadly than bad driving habits

Bad weather might actually have a positive effect on driving habits. Despite more collisions in winter, less people are being killed in them. It suggests people are being more careful in how they drive during months where snow, rain and sleet are constantly on the ground.

It’s also no secret that distracted driving has become the number one cause of death in auto collisions. 

When it’s snowy or wet outside, people tend to be more careful and wary of danger. It might just be the reason there are fewer fatal collisions during the summer than in winter.

Drive safe this summer

Safe driving begins and ends with the driver. Keep these tips in mind this summer and avoid causing or becoming a tragedy.

1. Stay sober. What more needs to be said about this one?

2. Plan ahead and be realistic about travel times

3. Stay off your phone

4. Beware the lead foot. When you’re on a long highway drive it's easy to build up speed. Keep yourself within a reasonable range of the posted speed limit to minimize injury risk

5. Secure any loose objects while you’re driving and of course make sure all your passengers are secured as well