Most people learn to drive in good weather, but life doesn’t always provide the ideal weather condition for driving. When Mother Nature gets angry and starts throwing storms, fog, and ice at you, roads get slick and driving gets dicey. Adverse weather conditions can make driving even familiar roads a hair-raising experience.
No matter how much driving experience you have, or what kind of weather you’re driving in, you should always remember this simple rule of thumb: Never drive faster than what is safe for the current conditions of the road. When driving in bad weather you should, above all, slow down.
But slowing down isn’t the only thing that you can do to stay safe when the weather turns foul. Follow these tips for driving in bad weather to make sure you arrive at your destination safe and sound.
Safe Driving Tips for Fog
Dense fog can seriously impair a driver’s vision of the road. In fact, it was involved in 9% of weather-related fatalities between 2007 and 2016, accounting for 464 deaths. The safest way to handle fog is not to drive in it, if possible. If you must drive, keep these driving tips in mind:
Do NOT use your high-beam headlights! High beams will reflect light off the fog ahead of you, making it even harder to see. Instead, turn on your regular headlights — or your fog lights, if you have them.
Use the white line on the right side of the road. The white line is easiest to see in poor weather conditions. It will help guide you and keep you in your lane. It will also prevent your vision from being impaired by the headlights of oncoming traffic.
Maintain a significant distance between you and the car in front of you. Give yourself plenty of time to stop abruptly, if necessary.
Use your turn signals early. Give cars behind you plenty of notice that you’ll be slowing down to make a turn. This will help them maintain their own following distance.
Safe Driving Tips for the Rain
When driving in rain, good windshield wipers can be your best friend! If your windshield wipers are old and dull, they can really limit visibility and increase your risk of getting into an accident. Rain is a major factor in deadly crashes, claiming the lives of 2,473 people between 2007 to 2016.
Give yourself plenty of time to stop. It takes longer to stop when driving in wet weather as the roads can be slick. You should also keep a good distance between you and the car in front of you. If you have to slam on your brakes, you could end up skidding.
Turn on your headlights. They’ll not only help you see but will make sure you’re visible to other drivers.
Try to avoid puddles. Driving over puddles of water can cause your car to hydroplane out of control. It’s helpful to drive in the tracks of the car in front of you, as these spots are less slick.
Drive in the middle lanes. Water is more likely to pool on the outer edges of the road, so sticking to the middle will give you the best opportunity to avoid hydroplaning.
Replace your wipers. Don't wait — get new ones as soon as they get dull. That way, you don’t get stuck behind a blurry windshield during an unexpected storm.
Safe Driving Tips for Snow and Ice
One of the most important things to remember when driving in snow is this: It’s probably going to take you twice as long to get where you’re going, so make sure you allow yourself plenty of time. It's best to go slow and steady since snow and sleet are involved in 13% of weather-related fatalities.
Test out your brakes. Your car will perform differently in the snow than it would on a dry road. If you’re new to snow driving, it’s probably a good idea to practice braking in an empty parking lot so you can see how your car reacts to the amount of pressure you apply to the brake pedal.
Take corners slowly. Give yourself plenty of time to slow down before turning. Taking a corner with too much speed can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and slide off the road.
Accelerate gradually. Your tires are likely to spin in place if you try to accelerate too quickly.
Beware of black ice! Black ice is a thin layer of transparent ice on a roadway that can cause your car to spin out as you quickly lose control. Watch the road ahead of you, and try to avoid driving over areas that look wet.
Keeping these tips with you can help you manage the road in some of the most common weather conditions for driving. For more resources on safe and defensive driving, check out our Driver Resource Center.
