Quite a few accidents, traffic jams and delays. That, in short, is this morning’s morning rush hour in Drenthe. There were several collisions, especially on the A28 and A32. It often happens that there are more accidents than usual during bad weather during rush hour, especially at dusk.
“It is busier during rush hour, so there is a greater chance that two cars will collide,” says traffic psychologist Cees Wildervanck. “And the bad weather also makes visibility worse and estimating distance becomes more difficult. And that also increases the risk of accidents.”
What also doesn’t help, according to Wildervanck, are the commuters. People who drive the same route every day from home to work and vice versa. “They are often in a hurry and drive on autopilot”
And that autopilot, therein lies a danger. “They think they can make a phone call in between, turn the radio up a bit and therefore pay less attention. And that creates an extra chance of an accident.”
What also doesn’t help is that more people take the car to go to work in bad weather. Adjusting your driving behavior can help, but that is also a difficult one, says the traffic psychologist.
However, he does have tips to reduce the risk of accidents. “Leave the phone, turn off your radio and pay attention. Keep your distance from the person in front because this gives you more time to respond to what is happening around you. And in the morning, if possible, leaving home ten minutes earlier also works. Because then you don’t have to rush as much.”