Driving Safely During Inclement Weather
Article by Jennifer Gaglione
Ice, snow, wind, heavy rain: All of these weather conditions can cause difficulty on the road. While it’s best to avoid driving in such conditions, sometimes it can’t be helped. Fortunately, there are ways you can still drive safely when inclement weather strikes. Follow these helpful driving safety tips the next time you’re caught in bad weather.
Important safe driving tips to consider
There are several measures you can take to drive safely during thunderstorms or winter weather conditions such as:
Leave plenty of space between you and the car in front of you. Rain and snow cause road surfaces to be wet and slippery, and your tires don’t have as much grip on the asphalt as they do in dry conditions. Your car may require more space to slow down because of this. Leave two to three times more space than usual to allow for plenty of extended reaction time during bad weather. Accelerate and brake gently. Sudden momentum in either direction can cause the tires to lose control on the surface of the road. Use your transmission to your advantage. Low gears can help you increase your traction, especially on hills or gravel. Whether you have a vehicle that shifts manually or automatically, take advantage of that edge during bad weather. Keep the cruise control turned off. During inclement weather, it’s important to have as much control over your car as possible. You also need to be able to make a smooth transition from accelerating to braking.Exercise caution on bridges, which tend to freeze first during cold weather. Try not to accelerate, brake or pass another vehicle when you are crossing a bridge. Stay behind snowplows and salting trucks. They’re clearing the road ahead of you and laying down salt for traction.
If you are stuck:
The National Safety Council advises that you keep your vehicle stocked with a shovel, jumper cables, a bag of cat litter or salt, a tow strap and tire chains, as well as a spare tire, jack and tool kit. These items can help free your car if you get stuck in the snow or rain. Also, avoid the temptation to press on the gas and spin your wheels to dislodge your car. Doing so may only cause your car to sink deeper into the mud or ice. Pour some of the cat litter or salt you have stored in your trunk underneath your tires to act as traction against the slippery ground. If all else fails, call for help and wait within the confines of your car until a tow truck or emergency assistance arrives.
Understand your vehicles capabilities and take extra precaution.
No matter what conditions you’re driving in, don’t assume that your car can handle them. Even SUVs and vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive can lose control during bad weather. Heavy downpours and snow can cause decreased visibility. In these instances, it’s simply best to pull over to the side of the road, leave plenty of room for passing cars and wait for the storm to pass or conditions to improve. Check weather reports frequently during seasons that produce excessive rain, thunderstorms or snow and ice. If you’re advised to stay off the road or drive at slow speeds, do so. Also, preset one of your radio station dials to your local AM weather channel, so you can stay informed of expected conditions.
Now that you know some important safe driving tips, you should feel more confident to handle inclement weather on the road. Learn about important driving statistics that can increase your awareness and help you drive safely. Also, make sure you have car insurance coverage that can protect you from damages to your vehicle caused by storms. Contact a trusted insurance company, like Nationwide Insurance, for your free quote today.
Jennifer Gaglione is a Cleveland-based writer who enjoys traveling, reading, yoga and theater. She lives with her husband, 2 children, and recent adoptee, Carmine, a Beagle-Fox Terrier mix.
