Dozens of crashes reported amid mid-Missouri rain Thursday

Rain throughout the morning Thursday caused more than 20 rain-related car crashes on state roads in mid-Missouri, Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop F Sgt. Scott White said.

By mid-afternoon, Boone County first responders had been sent to nearly a dozen crashes, online dispatch records showed.

And public safety organizations hope drivers exercise caution for the evening commute, which could be rainy for some parts of the area.

Sergeant White said, “The biggest tips we can give people is slow down, give yourself time to react and increase those following distances, cars can hydroplane at 35 mph, so the problems we’re seeing is when people are driving too fast for the conditions which means they’re driving too fast in the rain.”

Mid-Missouri drivers have been involved in almost 30,000 rain-related car crashes in the past three years, according to records maintained by the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The Missouri Department of Revenue Driver Guide says hydroplaning can happen at any speed over 35 mph and in a severe rainstorm, tires can lose all contact with the road at 55 mph.

“I think a lot of times people think that they have to keep up with traffic and the fact is you don’t. Again, you can control everything else everyone else does if people blow past you that doesn’t mean you have to drive fast also,” Sergeant White said.

Hydroplaning is more likely with worn-out or under-inflated tires, as well. Using cruise control can also increase the risk of hydroplaning on wet roads.

Check back or watch ABC 17 News at 5 and 6 for more on this story.

KMIZ