From an informal survey conducted at Bakersfield College on driving differently when the weather changes, such as fog or rain, 11 out of 15 students said they do not change the way they drive on the road during different weather conditions.
According to the California Highway Patrol Web site, “Crashes are more common among young drivers in weather conditions of which drivers are not used to.
One in four crash fatalities involve someone 16 to 24 years old, due to careless driving.”
Maria Toscano, 17, biology major, said, “I run late to school, and I don’t slow down when I’m driving. Maybe in the fog but not in the rain. I can see in the rain.”
Many other students had the same answer of not slowing down when it rains because it’s visible although it may be slippery.
With the weather being unpredictable, there are some students who drive more carefully than others. Beatriz Espitia, 28, nursing major, said she slows down when it’s raining and rolls down the window of her car in the fog to hear cars coming.
“Drivers don’t slow down when it’s raining or foggy, and they can cause an accident in an instant,” she said.
Tyler Adkins, 19, undeclared, said he is a careless driver, and other drivers are too slow on the road. However, he did give some advice to “pay more attention while driving so that no accidents occur.”
Having to worry about the weather outside on a rainy or foggy day is important, but many drivers also become distracted with objects inside their cars.
Marissa Behill, 20, animal science major, said, “I really don’t care what the weather is outside because it doesn’t change my driving, except in the fog. But I must admit that I put makeup on, text and get distracted with my iPod while driving.”
Fifty-three percent of drivers have seen other drivers use text messaging, use MP3 players and talk on the phone while driving, according to the California Highway Patrol Web site.
Mayra Martinez, 21, chemistry and math major, recommended student drivers not to “use cell phones to talk or text while driving because it’s distracting and before you know it, the car in front of you brakes all of a sudden and by the time you react to brake, it’s too late, and you’re now involved in an accident.”