Navigating Hazardous Weather Conditions for Drivers

The best advice anyone can give you when it comes to driving in severe weather conditions is to pull off the road. You’ll stay safer and arrive without incident if you stop driving until the hazardous conditions pass. Unfortunately, that’s not always a possibility. If you must drive when road conditions are less than ideal, these tips will keep you safer as you travel.

Plan Your Trip in Advance

Whenever possible, take the time to plan your trip in advance by plotting your route and checking the weather forecast. This will help you avoid road construction and other road hazards while ensuring you’ll head out when the weather conditions are at their best. Even if you have limited flexibility, checking the weather forecast and delaying your departure by an hour or more can help you avoid the worst conditions.

Make Sure Your Headlights Stay On

Most modern vehicles have headlights that stay on while the vehicle is in operation. Whether or not your headlights come on automatically, check to make sure they’re in good working condition. Keeping your headlights turned on as you drive in hazardous conditions will make it easier for other drivers to see you from farther away.

Keep Your Speed Under the Speed Limit

Speed limits ensure drivers can navigate the roads safely, but hazardous road conditions change how vehicles perform. Even on a straight road, icy or wet asphalt can cause vehicles to skid or slide. It will also take longer for drivers to come to a full stop. You’ll handle your car or truck better if you drive a little slower.

Keep Your Distance

No matter what conditions affect your driving, keeping a greater distance between your vehicle and the car or truck ahead is essential. Whether there’s a thick fog, road construction, or slick asphalt surfaces, maintaining a greater distance will prepare you for sudden stops. Often, giving yourself a few extra feet can make a difference in preventing an accident on the road.

Drive Towards the Middle of the Road

Normally, drivers shouldn’t have problems with staying inside the lanes on a road. As the weather conditions worsen, this becomes a bigger challenge. It might not be possible to see the lines on the road when there’s a layer of snow or ice. Alternatively, heavy rainfall often leads to flooding on the outer edges of the road. You’ll drive in safer conditions by staying closer to the center of the road. Just leave room for a lane of oncoming traffic.

Don’t Panic While Behind the Wheel

Avoid making sudden turns or slamming your foot on the brake pedal to stop suddenly. Especially under hazardous conditions, these actions can lead to a multi-vehicle accident. Rather than panicking when you miss a turn, take the next street or highway exit. Driving a little farther than you intended is better than risking damages and injuries on an unsafe road.

Keep Your Vision Sharp

Driving too fast under hazardous weather conditions will limit your visibility and increase the risk of an accident. Make sure you don’t drive beyond the limits of your vision. Similarly, avoid driving when your eyes feel tired or strained. If you find it difficult to see clearly, pull over and give your eyes a brief rest. If you have bottled water in your vehicle, rinse your eyes before getting back on the road.

Make Sure You Arrive Safe

Follow these tips to avoid serious accidents on the road. In many situations, your advanced preparations and the attention you give to your environment are enough to keep you safe on hazardous roadways. It’s better to arrive late and safe than to risk a devastating accident that might leave you with significant vehicle damages and serious injuries.

Conclusion

Traffic accidents are far too common. In 2022 there were nearly 1,300 car accidents in just the city of Modesto, California. While many accidents are attributed to speed, distracted driving and reckless driving, these behaviors can prove even more dangerous when the road conditions worsen due to adverse weather. It is important to know how to drive safely when the weather turns bad. You may even save a life.