Although we can t control the weather conditions on our roads, we can choose to cancel our plans or take the train when the forecast is stormy. In real life, most of our trips involve unforeseen circumstances where driving is the only option. In heavy rain, fog, or snow, there are certain precautions that can keep you safe to maintain control of your car. Firstly, be it night or day, reduce your speed, turn off the radio, and keep both hands on the wheel and drive defensively. Be aware that not everyone around you knows the protocol for dangerous driving conditions.
Heavy Rain
Every once and a while the clouds open up and unleash a torrential downpour of rain, sometimes blocking your entire view through the windshield. When this happens, turn your headlights on (or your high beams down) and put the wipers on the fastest mode possible. In heavy rains, the roadbed sometimes floods, creating enormous puddles that a vehicle can hydroplane over. In addition, the oils from the roadbed float to the top of the puddles, smoothing out a slick surface on which oncoming drivers cannot steer. Listen for the sounds of puddles that coincide unexpected tugs on the steering wheel, with a firm grip keep the wheel aligned straight, and ease your foot off the gas pedal. Glide over the puddle, and do not brake or accelerate until you feel traction with the road again.
Fog
Any time of day is prone to heavy fog in most areas, but when driving through the mountains expect quick moving patches of fog at any given second. Turn on your headlights and, if your vehicle has them, fog lights so that other drivers can see you. Keep the bright beams off as it may blind the people driving on the other side of the road. Reduce your speed and adjust the defrost settings accordingly.
Snow and Ice
Combined, snow and ice are the most taxing conditions to drive in. Pick an all wheel drive vehicle if you have a choice, and be conscious of where you park to avoid stranding your car in a snow bank. If you cannot move your car from its parking spot, find out which wheel is spinning and place a bunch of wood blocks or sticks underneath the tire to give it traction. Before the snowstorm, if you are driving a car with flip up headlamps, be sure to leave the lamps in the up position so if water seeps in they won t be frozen shut. Try to drive only on roads that are plowed and salted, and keep your speed down to half of the limit. Avoid black ice or transparent ice that blends into the roadbed and follow the same precautions as with hydroplaning if you find yourself sliding on it.
When driving through bad weather if you focus on your driving, your surroundings, and maintain your composure, you re going to find that in the long haul, lots of practice is going to make it perfect, which is exactly what you want to happen.
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