Driving in Bad Weather |
Posted: August 13, 2018 |
I remember this one time, being about 24-years old and driving on Kelly Drive in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was really coming down that day, and one of the unfortunate things about driving the twisting, winding pathways of Kelly Drive is that there is no protection from the Schuylkill River should your car spiral out of control. Well, that’s what happened to me, as I took a turn too fast and my car hydroplaned, twisting into the other lane of traffic. To this day, more than a decade later, I have no idea how my car didn’t wind up in the river or at the very least, how I wasn’t injured - or killed - by oncoming traffic. Hydroplaning in the rain is just one thing that’s happened to me on the road. There have been other times when I lost control of my car while driving in a blizzard, unable to see the lanes in the highway beneath me. I’m fortunate, in a way, that I now live in San Francisco because I avoid having to drive in horrific weather conditions, like sleet and snow. But, to this day, whenever it rains, I still get a lot of anxiety because of my close-call that happened more than a decade ago. When it comes to driving in bad weather, you absolutely need to pay closer attention to your surroundings. This is one way you’ll be able to avoid getting involved in a serious car accident. Far too many people, like myself, overestimate their ability to safely control their car when driving in poor weather conditions. This leads to many preventable accidents on the road. What is Bad Weather?Bad weather is outlined to be more than just rain and snow, like you’d think it’d be. According to DriversEd, bad weather can constitute wind, fog and even sun glare which I’ve become highly accustomed to driving up and down the Western Coast. It’s clear that bad weather can occur as a variety of different circumstances. For example, people may not be comfortable driving in the rain or may have poor windshield wipers that make visibility difficult or impossible. Avoiding accidents in bad weather is strongly recommended for drivers of all experience levels and ages because natural elements like snow, rain fog and other dangerous conditions can make it more likely for you to be involved in a car accident that leaves you dealing with catastrophic injuries. No one wants to deal with the expenses and injuries tied to an accident. Avoid Car Accidents with Proper MaintenanceFirst and foremost, the most important thing you can do to avoid a weather-related incident is to get a complete, mechanical tune-up on your vehicle. This is absolutely critical for avoiding car accidents and can alert you to the to any problems - should there be any - sooner rather than later. Case and point: your car’s wiper-blades are worn out. If you get caught in a severe thunderstorm, you may be dealing with reduced visibility thanks to these wiper-blades, and unfortunately, that can lead to an accident and injury. If you’re on the road and bad weather emerges suddenly, be prepared for decreased visibility. This is why it is all the more important to remain visible for other drivers by using your headlights at all times. Although it may seem like common sense, considering how many studies have been conducted on the importance of seatbelts, far too many people still skip out on wearing a seatbelt when they are behind the wheel. While it’s vital to wear a seatbelt at all times, doing so especially during times of bad weather is crucial because natural elements elevate your risk of being involved in a motor vehicle accident. Each and every time you get behind the wheel, you should be concentrating your efforts on doing what you can to minimize your risk of sustaining injuries - or hurting someone else sharing the road. Remain Visible to Other DriversOne of the things I still see on the road is how often people refuse to put their headlights on during a rainstorm. Furthermore, you should always use your turn signals and other indicators when operating your vehicle in bad weather because the stopping-time a vehicle may ordinarily have in normal weather will be decreased if you’re driving in bad weather. The use of headlights and turning signals helps other drivers who may not be able to see you know your anticipated next moves to avoid the issues that are more common in such an accident.
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