The best safety tip that one can give you for driving in bad weather is not to drive at all. Trust me, I am definitely not kidding. It’s the safest advice of the lot. But in case it becomes impossible to avoid the drive at all possible costs, it’s necessary for you to follow a few safety measures at the very least.
Let’s take a peek at these safety tips that might come in handy for you in case you are forced to be on the road in a bad weather.
1. Lights on
By lights I definitely mean the headlights. Always ensure that you drive with your headlights on especially when you drive through a bad weather such as fog, thunderstorm, hurricane and so on.
Small things like that can prevent the occurrence of a serious accident, thereby saving a number of lives in the process.
2. Maintain a distance from the vehicle in front of you
In case you are driving through a moderately busy traffic during bad weather, it’s advisable to maintain at least a 3 second distance from the vehicle in front of you. AVOID tailgating at all cost.
The 3 second distance is considered to be the threshold limit of safety. But my suggestion will be to amp up that distance to say 5 seconds especially during a bad weather and if there’s a significantly large vehicle like a 18 wheeler truck ahead of you. Why take a chance?
Remember accidents can happen anywhere anytime and truck accidents particularly has a large mortality rate. So it would be better to take no chances.
3. When in doubt, STOP
When you start questioning yourself, it’s always better to take a break from the job in hand. The same thing’s applicable here.
When you feel that the pressure of driving in poor weather is getting to you, the advice is to STOP immediately. Slow down to the side of the road and stop your engine immediately. Wait for the anxiety to pass. Start off only after you feel a bit better.
4. No distractions
While driving through bad weather, your concentration should always be on the job in hand. Hence, it’s necessary for you to adhere strictly to a few basic safety protocols such as:
- Eyes on the road.
- Keep both hands on the wheel.
- Music (if any) should be turned down to lowest possible volume.
- Mobile phone should be switched off.
- Commotion inside the car should be toned down to zero.
You’ll be surprised to see how these safety protocols can save your life in certain unforeseen circumstances.
5. Be cautious near intersections
Always exercise caution near intersections. Even if you see the green light on, there’s absolute no certainty that the intersection is clear. And especially at times of bad weather, there are high chances for you to encounter any vehicle at intersections due to poor visibility issues.
So stay cautions and take no chances. You will be avoiding a lot of accidents by following that simple thumb rule of driving.
6. Turn your fog lights on
When driving through a fog, it’s advisable to turn your fog lights on for extra safety and better visibility. These lights are yellow in color that penetrate the fog better than the white lights.
Your fog lights are also placed quite low to the ground. Hence, they can illuminate the road well in comparison to that of the white lights. Small things like that can really improve your drive especially during bad weather.
7. Stock up on emergency kits
A simple emergency aid kit can really save your life in case you get into tight situations. It also ensures the fact that you have done your preps well in case you have to confront with an emergency. Some of the things that you should include in this kit of yours are:
- Road flares
- A flashlight
- A shovel
- Duct tape
- Air compressor accompanied with an ice scraper
- Basic first aid including band aids, antiseptic, cotton, a pair of scissors, gauze and so on.
You should also consider adding dry food, water and warm clothes. These things might look too petty on hindsight but in certain circumstances, their importance can go off the charts. So never ignore small things like that.
So that’s it then. Hope these tips come in handy for you especially when you are confronting a bad weather during your drive. Stay safe and drive safely. Ciao!
Contributed by:http://www.texas-truckaccidentlawyer.com/
