00:01What's worse, driving in a downpour or driving in the first rain after weeks of dry weather?
00:06The data might surprise you.
00:08Research from the University of California, Berkeley, found that when rain falls after just two dry days,
00:14the risk of fatal crashes increases by 3.7 percent.
00:18But after 21 dry days or more, that risk jumps to 9.2 percent.
00:23So why does that happen?
00:25After weeks of dry weather, oil, dirt and debris build up on roadways.
00:29When the first rain arrives, it mixes with those pollutants, creating an extra slippery surface before roads can be washed
00:35clean.
00:36In fact, experts say the greatest hazard often comes during the early stages of rainfall when that buildup of oil
00:42and grime first mixes with the water.
00:44And it's not just the roads.
00:46After weeks without rain, many drivers haven't had to adjust to wet conditions.
00:49Dirty windshields can become smeared with dust, pollen and grime,
00:53while wiper blades that haven't been used in a while may leave streaks just as visibility starts to drop.
00:59Add in longer stopping distances and reduce traction, and that first shower can catch drivers off guard.
01:05So the next time rain returns after weeks of dry weather,
01:08remember that light shower you've been waiting for may be more dangerous than it looks.
