NORTHBROOK, Ill. — More than a third of U.S. drivers surveyed recently by Allstate Insurance Co. admit wet winter driving conditions stress them out, with nearly half saying they are concerned by the prospect.
Allstate's findings are viewed as particularly salient because the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an especially wet winter for much of the country, including wetter-than-average conditions across most of the northern U.S.
To determine the precipitation-based rankings, Allstate researchers use a predictive model that standardizes the rankings to account for the fact that weather conditions affect road safety and vary dramatically across the U.S.
While the Allstate survey found that only a quarter (26 percent) of American drivers feel confident in their winter driving abilities, 92 percent said they take active steps to better prepare themselves for slick roads, including increasing following distance behind another vehicle (78 percent) and checking the weather before heading out (70 percent).
According to the NOAA, preparations like these are key to navigating potentially harsh conditions.
"NOAA shares advanced seasonal outlooks to help communities prepare for what's likely to come in the next few months and minimize the winter weather's impact on lives and livelihoods," said Mike Halpert, deputy director of the NOAA's Climate Prediction Center.
"Empowering people with actionable forecasts and winter weather tips is key to NOAA's efforts in building a weather-ready nation," he said.
Glenn Shapiro, Allstate's chief claims officer, said, "As part of Allstate's safe-driving legacy, we're shining a light on our country's safest drivers and helping communities across the country stay vigilant on the road, especially during winter and the holiday travel season.
