Many times people have to be somewhere and they must drive through horrible conditions. Rain, snow, and windy conditions can contribute to treacherous driving conditions that cause many accidents and fatalities. Driving in low visibility and on icy roads makes the situation even more dangerous. You can keep yourself safe if you follow a few rules to driving in hazardous weather.
Leave early enough to not feel rushed. If you know that a large snowstorm or other hazardous weather front is on its way through the area, leave a little earlier so you will have enough time to drive cautiously and arrive on time. Speeding and horrible weather conditions are never a good idea, no matter how late you think you will be. If you arrive very early, at least you will be there safe and sound with no injuries.
Be aware of your surroundings. When driving through a storm or other windy conditions, it is very important to look around you to make sure that nothing is blowing in the wind that could come across your path. Never drive into any body of water in which you cannot see the road. You may be driving into a flood that you cannot get out of.
Make sure you are driving at appropriate speeds. Just because the speed limit is a certain number doesn't mean that you must meet that number when driving in hazardous weather. Drive slowly and put your hazard lights on to alert other drivers to your slow moving car. Just because other drivers may be driving faster than you are does not mean that you must drive faster, too.
Pull over if you cannot see or control the car properly. In extreme weather, it may be impossible to see when driving. In this case it is best to find a safe place to pull over and wait out the weather. Try to find and exit or a parking lot to pull over rather than pulling over on the side of a major highway. In very, very bad conditions, find a spot to pull onto the shoulder and stop if you need to.
Keep your headlights turned on. Your car needs to be as visible as possible to other drivers on the road. If you cannot be seen, you may be injured in an auto accident. Make sure your headlights are turned on and drive with them in the on position so other drivers can easily see your car. You may be able to see a little better in bad conditions when your headlights are on, too.
Drive defensively. Not all other drivers use common sense when driving in bad weather conditions. You must be on the lookout for other cars that are out of control, driving too fast, or are not very visible. You must protect yourself from these cars and try to stay away from them in order to avoid any accident that they may become involved in.
Listen to driving suggestions from the local weather authority. Turn on the radio to listen to weather warnings and watches in your area. The local weather authority may be able to alert you to certain driving conditions and what to expect. They can also tell you what roads to avoid and when you should stay off the roads altogether. Some states will only allow certain emergency vehicles on the road during certain weather events, so be sure that you are following the law.
Driving during bad weather is very dangerous and should be avoided whenever possible. If you absolutely must drive in bad weather, you need to take precautions and use common sense when driving to avoid having an accident and becoming injured.
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