A RISE in accidents caused by wet weather has forced a stark warning from safety chiefs.
Smashes on wet or flooded roads in Wiltshire increased from 827 in 2001 to 906 last year, and are being blamed on excessive speed.
The rise comes as Government figures reveal there were 361 serious or fatal car crashes on Wiltshire's roads last year, although the total number of accidents fell from 2,480 to 2,352.
Castle Combe racetrack runs courses to teach drivers how to handle wet roads and staff are urging drivers to reduce speed in wet conditions and leave plenty of time for their journeys.
Gary Payne, advanced driving instructor at Castle Combe, said: "The number of accidents does not necessarily mean drivers are breaking the speed limit but driving too fast for the road conditions.
"The figures suggest drivers are failing to make allowances for the bad weather."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article