The SWOV factsheet 'The impact of the weather' has been updated. In addition to the risks of poor weather conditions, the factsheet also addresses the effect of high temperatures. Studies from China, Italy, and the United States show that the chance of an accident increases with high temperatures, from just over 3% to as much as 20%.
A significant cause for the increased crash risk at high temperatures is that heat affects the behavior of road users, for example, due to poorer sleep, slower reaction times, decreased concentration, and quicker irritation. The fact that more and more cars have air conditioning helps to manage temperatures during the journey.
