Wind-related road accidents in England and Wales 1980–1990

Abstract

Previous studies of wind-related accidents have concentrated on the effects of individual high wind storms on road accidents. This study examines the wind hazard and its effects on accident occurrence. Police road accident data were analysed for the period 1980–1990. Wind-related accidents were found to be only a small percentage of total overall accidents recorded by the police. Despite accounting for so few accidents, the author felt it was important to consider the effects of high winds on accident severity. In order to demonstrate this severity ratios were used in the analysis. However, no relationship could be established. To examine exposure to risk weather data were included in the analysis. The proportion of time high winds were recorded over a given time period was compared to the percentage of total accidents occurring in high winds over that same period. If high winds did not effect the likelihood of an accident occurring then the proportion of accidents occurring in high wind would equal the proportion of time for which high winds were recorded. In fact, the proportion of accidents occuring in high winds was almost double the percentage duration of high winds.