Driving in Adverse Conditions - Auto Safety

Driving in Adverse Conditions
Whether you're a novice or a skilled driver, there are going to be times when adverse weather will test your driving abilities. The best defense you have is the ability to react calmly and correctly to the conditions.

Before you head out, watch your local weather forecast. If there is a possibility of rain, snow, strong winds or other potentially dangerous weather on the way, you may want to consider alternative travel times, routes and destinations. But you can't always predict the weather, and there is always the possibility you could get stuck driving in adverse conditions. Whether you're driving in slick conditions or avoiding potholes or hazards in the road, here are a few tips that could help you react in ways that will keep you safe.

When Surfaces are Slick
When roads become slippery, you have to react differently than you would during ideal driving conditions. Whether it’s rainy, snowy or icy, there are some simple steps you can take to help keep yourself safe in slick conditions:

Prepare your Vehicle. Tires should be properly inflated and have sufficient tread depth to help ensure traction on slick roads. In the winter, check your fluids, particularly for washer fluid and anti-freeze, to make sure they are at adequate levels. Keep an emergency kit in your vehicle with jumper cables, flares, a flashlight and some warm clothing and blankets in case you get stuck. Additionally, you should make sure you completely clear your vehicle of snow and ice before you start driving. This increases your safety by making sure you have unobstructed views out all windows and prevents snow and ice from flying off your car and posing hazards to others on the road.
Reduce your Speed. Most slick condition crashes are caused by excessive speeds for the road and weather conditions. Speed Limits are set for optimal, dry driving conditions. If conditions are adverse, you may need to travel at a speed well below the posted limit.
Leave Extra Space. In perfect driving conditions, you should leave at least one car length between vehicles for every ten miles per hour that you are driving. In inclement weather, stopping distances are increased, and you need to adjust how close you follow other vehicles.
Dial 911 in Emergencies. If your vehicle becomes disabled or if you encounter an emergency, you should dial 911 and report your location and the nature of the emergency. Make sure you always know your location, including the name of the road you’re on or the mile marker if you’re on a highway.

Driving Through Puddles
Be very cautious when driving through puddles, the water may be hiding a pothole. Never drive through rushing water, as it may be a lot deeper than you expected. And in flood conditions, the water can rise more quickly than you may be able to react.

Driving in Fog
When you’re driving in foggy conditions, it’s just as important for other cars to see you as it is for you to see them and the road. Always use your low beams, not just the fog or parking lights. This helps other drivers see your vehicle. In extremely thick fog, use the lines on the pavement and roadway reflectors as your guide and listen for other vehicles you may not be able to see.

Avoiding Potholes
It’s important to have a pothole plan, or at least an awareness that these road craters can appear with little warning. While sometimes there’s nothing you can do to avoid driving over a pothole, there are steps you can take to help increase your awareness of these hazards in the road and avoid damage to your automobile.

Watch the Traffic Around You. If you notice that everyone in front of you is making an unexpected detour, they may be swerving to avoid a pothole in the road.
Make Mental Notes. Pay close attention to your daily commute or other frequently traveled routes and make note of the potholes. Knowing the route you drive will help you avoid potholes instead of absentmindedly running over them.
Pay Attention to your Tires. Keeping your tire pressure at the manufacturer's recommendation will help keep your wheels and tires from being damaged from pothole impacts.
Check with your Department of Transportation. Some state Web sites have a "report-a-pothole" feature. This can help you identify possible problem roads and gives you the opportunity to report potholes you discover during your commute.

If conditions prevent you from taking safe evasive actions and running over the crater is unavoidable, there are several things you can do minimize the possibility of damage. If you can’t completely avoid a pothole, don't swerve at the last minute. Swerving can cause the front wheel and tire to impact the edge of the pothole at an odd angle, which may do more damage than hitting it squarely. Do decrease your speed before run over a pothole, but don’t brake while going over a pothole. Heavy braking will compress the front suspension of your vehicle and may force the tire and wheel down into the pothole, rather than gliding over the hole.

If, after running over a pothole, you feel a sudden vibration or disturbance, or you suspect your tire or vehicle has been damaged, immediately reduce your speed. Pull off the road when it is safe to do so and inspect your tires. If a tire is under-inflated or damaged, replace it with your spare tire and wheel. If you cannot determine the cause of the problem, have the vehicle towed to the nearest repair facility or dealer and have the vehicle inspected.

Print a copy of our Auto Accident Checklist to keep in your glove box.

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