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Winter is upon us, which means
bad weather and dangerous driving conditions are common. It is more
important than ever to practice safe driving techniques in typical
winter weather conditions such as rain, wind, snow, ice, sleet, and fog. It is even more important to practice safety in extreme weather
conditions such as hurricanes, tornados, torrential rain/snow and
electrical storms. If possible, it is best to postpone a trip and
stay home rather than drive if there is an extreme weather system
moving through your area.
Here are some tips for driving in bad weather:
- Plan Ahead. Driving in bad weather usually
takes longer and is more stressful. If you did not leave more
time to reach your destination and are consequently running late,
this will only increase your stress level and could adversely
affect your driving. Also, check the weather before you leave.
If you can take an alternate route to avoid the brunt of a weather
system, do so. You may also want to consider postponing your trip
until the weather has improved. If you decide not to postpone,
carry a map with you to prevent getting lost when visibility is
low, and to show you alternate routes if necessary.
- Drive Slowly. This accompanies the above item;
you should drive more slowly than usual in bad weather. This decreases
the chance of skids and accidents.
- Leave Room In Front. Many experts recommend
doubling the "cushion" between you and the car in front
of you when you are driving in rain, snow, sleet, etc. Brake time
is slower in these conditions, and you must allow yourself more
room.
- Make Sure Your Equipment Is In Working Order.
Have your tires and brakes checked more frequently in the winter
months. Make sure your windshield wipers are in working order
and that your headlights are clean. Dirty headlights can significantly
reduce visibility, especially in bad weather. Clear your windshield
and mirrors of ice or frost before leaving, and keep them clear
with your wipers and wiper fluid during the trip. If you need
to pull over to scrape ice or snow, be sure to do so in a safe
place.
- Use Your Low Beams in Fog. Turn on your headlights
(make sure to use your low beams, not your high beams) in fog,
whether you are driving through it at night OR during the day.
Your low beam headlights not only help you to see, but also help
other cars to see you. It is also very important to maintain a
large following distance in fog and to drive slowly, as you may
not see things like another car or a traffic light until it is
nearly upon you. Stay close to the right hand side of the road
in fog to avoid going over the center line into oncoming traffic.
- Listen To The Radio. Listen to a radio station
that offers road condition information at a low volume during
your trip. The station may offer alternate routes or inform you
of road closures and such. Keep it at a low volume so as not to
intrude on your concentration, you need to be very focused when
driving in bad weather.
- Buckle Up! Be sure you and your passengers
wear seatbelts at all times. Not only is it the law in most states,
it can also save lives, especially when driving in bad weather.
- Pull Over If You Need To. If you are at all
tired, pull over (at a safe spot totally off the road) and rest
your eyes. Don’t be afraid of the time you may "waste"
by pulling over, it’s certainly a better risk than that of getting
in an accident. Also; if the weather is suddenly particularly
bad, it may be a good idea to find a safe place to pull off the
road and try to wait out the bad spell. If the poor weather involves
deep snow or heavy rain, be sure you are not pulling over into
a deep puddle or snow bank.
The above are just a few of the ways of helping you and your loved
ones stay safe during the winter months. |
