Featured News 2013 Driver Safety in Storms

Driver Safety in Storms

Storm season is approaching as winter comes and the last traces of summer weather disappear with October. Individuals who are driving in the rainstorms or winter weather need to be very aware of the dangers that they may encounter while they are out on the roads. It is important for drivers to remember that if road conditions are particularly unsafe, they need to turn back rather than forge ahead. It is better to miss a day of work or an appointment then to risk your life driving through the torrential weather to get there.

Drivers who are moving through rain storms or snow storms should always slow down. Whenever moisture lands on the roads, it will mix with whatever other substances are on the road surface. IN some cases, spilt fuel, oil, grease, mud, and dirt can all mix together to make the road extremely slippery. When it hasn't rained in a while, a fresh downpour will bring chemicals in the asphalt up to the surface, making the road particularly slippery. Drivers would do well to drive slowly and take every turn at a crawling pace rather than speed along the road and risk hydroplaning.

Drivers should also switch on their headlights in rainy weather. This will help them to be seen despite the torrential rainstorms. Utilize windshield wipers on your vehicle to make sure that you can see as well, and use demisters if they are necessary. It is important to make sure to clear condensation on the windows, as the windows may fog up in hot weather.

If you live in a location where there is sheet rain, then you need to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. Sheet rain is often too strong for the wiper blades, and will severely limit your ability to see in front of you. Whenever you have drastically limited visibility, you should pull over and wait for the conditions to clear. This includes very thick fog or heavy rain in the nighttime.

Drivers should always stay far back from other vehicles during the rain, especially larger profile vehicles which may spray water when travelling through puddles. Buses, semi-trucks, and delivery trucks are among the many vehicles to avoid. It is also good to follow far behind other cars because this lengthens your stopping distances. If your wheels skid on the slippery asphalt, you will want plenty of distance between you and the car ahead in order to avoid a rear-end accident.

Drivers also need to give themselves more time than normal to slow to traffic lights or stop signs, since there is a possibility that the car could skid on the road. Never use cruise control in the rain. Road safety experts say that many cruise controls don't take the loss of traction into account, and therefore the cruise control will start to speed up if you start filliping on the road. Drivers need to be very gently with the brakes and steering wheel in the rain, maneuvering lightly in order to avoid a crash.

Also, when driving in the rain make sure to double check mirrors and scan. A driver who speeds through a red light will not be able to stop on the slick roads if turning towards you, so it is always best to be cautious. If you want more information about driving in extreme weather, or if you were injured in a car accident that occurred because of a driver's negligence in the wet weather, you may need to talk to a local attorney at a firm near you!

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