Helpful Driving Information

DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER AND LOW VISIBILITY

Your task as a safe driver is to know how to adjust your driving to meet conditions on the road when you must travel, or to know how to maintain a modicum of safety when you find yourself in bad weather.

DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER AND LOW VISIBILITY

Your ability to see is limited in adverse weather conditions such as rain, fog, ice, snow, and dust. The most effective defensive driving techniques in these cases are to slow down and drive at speeds safe for the weather or to delay departure until conditions improve.

DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER AND LOW VISIBILITY

Bright sun or light reflections on a dirty window decrease visibility and increase risk. You should clear ice, frost, or dew from all windows before you drive.

DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER AND LOW VISIBILITY

Make sure you are able to see and be seen. If you drive in rain or snow, make sure to stop sometimes to wipe mud or snow off your windshield, headlights, and taillights. In any case, even in excellent weather, drive with your headlights on so as to be seen by other drivers.

SUN GLARE

Driving toward the sun from sunrise to sunset can impair your visibility. Slow down when visibility is reduced in order to react to the unseen.
Dark sunglasses and the sun visor in your car can help you see better and diminish some of the effects of glare and reflected light from windows and chrome.

FOG

Among all weather conditions, fog is the most dangerous. Follow these tips:

• Use your wipers and defroster as necessary for the best view.
• Turn on your low-beam headlights. Do not use high-beams—it can actually decrease your visibility. High-beams will reflect back and cause a glare.

FOG

Slow down. Fog makes it very difficult to judge speed—check your speedometer to make sure you have slowed down.
Increase your following distance and be prepared to stop within the space you can see in front of your vehicle. Watch for slow moving vehicles. Check your rearview mirror for vehicles approaching from behind.

FOG

Slow down in patchy fog conditions—be sure you turn on your vehicle's low-beam headlights.
It is easy to think you can see well enough to proceed through patchy fog. However, you may suddenly encounter a heavy fog bank and find yourself in a dire circumstance of not being able to see ahead, behind, or on either side of your vehicle.

FOG

If the fog becomes so thick that you can barely see, pull safely and completely off the road. Do not continue driving until the fog lifts and visibility improves.

RAIN

Slow down at the first sign of rain, drizzle, or snow on the road. This is when many road surfaces are most slippery because moisture mixes with oil and dust that has not been washed away.
Turn on your low-beam headlights.

RAIN

Heavy rainfall can reduce visibility to zero. Pull over and wait for the rain to subside, or until visibility is restored.

REDUCED TRACTION

Wet road surfaces can cause tires to hydroplane (skim on a thin layer of water). This could result in loss of control and steering ability. Hydroplaning is caused by a combination of standing water on the road, car speed, and under-inflated or worn-out tires.

REDUCED TRACTION

If it feels like your tires have lost traction with the surface of the road and your vehicle is hydroplaning, take your foot off the accelerator and let the vehicle slow down. Do not try to stop until your tires are gripping the road again. To reduce the chances of hydroplaning, use tires with adequate water-channeling treads and check them regularly. Remember the other important factor is speed control—always slow down when water is on the road.

SNOW AND ICE

Streets and highways covered with snow, snow pack, or ice are extremely hazardous. They are most hazardous when the snow or ice begins to melt. The slush or wet surface acts as a lubricant and traction is reduced.
Extreme weather conditions may require special equipment (e.g., tire chains) and/or special skills by the driver (e.g., slow starts and stops).

SNOW AND ICE

Here are some guidelines for driving in snow or icy conditions:

• Keep the windows and windshield clear.
• Obtain maximum visibility by turning on low-beam headlights and windshield wipers.
• Drive slowly and stay farther behind the vehicle ahead. Slow to a crawl on ice. Slow down as you approach curves and intersections.
• Avoid fast turns.
• Avoid quick stops.
  

SNOW AND ICE

• Shift to low gear before going down a steep hill, but do not downshift at too fast a speed.
• If you drive in snowy areas, carry chains in case you find yourself in conditions where you can't drive without them. Learn how to put the chains on BEFORE you need to use them.

SNOW AND ICE

If you begin to skid, let up on the accelerator and turn the front wheels in the direction of the skid.

WIND

Wind creates additional problems for drivers. It can be especially dangerous for recreational vehicles, campers, and vehicles towing trailers. The best defensive driving technique you can use for wind is driving at slower speeds.

WIND

Wind generally reduces your steering control. Tail winds push the car, increasing speed. Head winds slow the car down.
Crosswinds may cause the car to swerve, especially SUVs and vans. Be prepared to make adjustments in speed and steering to compensate for wind conditions or safely pull over to allow gusty winds to subside.

WIND

You may suddenly be hit by a gust of wind as you cross a culvert or bridge, or drive through mountain passes and ravines. Wind gusts occur suddenly and can cause total loss of vehicle control, requiring an adjustment in speed and steering. You may encounter a small gust when being passed by a large truck or bus. Be alert.

HOT WEATHER

When driving in hot weather, keep an eye on the warning lights and gauges, especially the temperature gauge.

HOT WEATHER

If the temperature gauge moves up to just below the red zone, turn off your air conditioner and turn on your vehicle's heater to its highest and hottest setting to help draw some of the heat away from the engine; immediately seek out a service station with a mechanic or pull over safely and contact a road service organization that assists drivers.

HOT WEATHER

If your temperature gauge is elevated and rising, and you are stopped in traffic, briefly put the car in park and lightly step on the gas to help circulate coolant.
If the temperature light goes on or if the gauge enters the red zone, immediately pull off the road to a safe spot, well away from traffic, and stop the engine.

HOT WEATHER

Wait 20 minutes, start up the engine, and if the temperature light comes on, proceed directly to the nearest garage with a mechanic. If at any time the gauge goes back into the red zone or the temperature light comes on, pull over immediately, turn off the engine and repeat the wait process.

HOT WEATHER

Never attempt to remove the radiator cap when your car is hot, and do not pour water over a hot radiator or engine. You must wait a sufficient amount of time until your engine cools.

HOT WEATHER

Even when parked in a parking lot, warm weather can pose dangers. Never leave a child or pet in a parked car in warm weather. Even an outside temperature in the 80s can quickly bring a car interior to well over 140 degrees.