10 Tips and Tricks for Driving in Severe Weather

1. Listen to the radio

If it is safe to do so (i.e. your car’s electronics are not in jeopardy), turn on the radio and listen to information. There will be an emergency channel available that will provide necessary information on the storms in your location.

2. Avoid driving high flooded areas

Flooding doesn’t take long to occur from the start of a downpour. So, if you are in a situation where water is gushing down, it might be the best to drive to higher ground and wait for the flooding to subside. If there are more than six inches of water on the road, you do not want to continue driving.

3. Slow down and leave extra room

In general, if it is a hailstorm, gushing winds or a thundery weather, you want to slow down and leave extra room between you and other cars.

If you feel like you can’t control the vehicle, then it’s a good idea to drive on the side of the road and park there. Turn on your emergency flashers and stay put until the conditions ease and you feel more comfortable to continue driving.

4. In many instances remaining inside the vehicle is the safest option

If it’s thundery or raining a lot, you should definitely stay inside the car unless you can get inside a building that looks more secure. The car will provide ample protection from the weather and it’s actually one of the safest places to be during a thunderstorm.

5.Find a solid shelter, but avoid trees

If you can, you should find a shelter for your car, such as garage, overpass or a tunnel. This is especially good during thunderstorms and hailstorms. A shelter can protect your car from the damage a hailstorm could cause.

The key is to avoid staying near trees during storms. High winds might uproot a whole tree and even a single branch could seriously damage your car and make your life harder.

6. Stop driving if you see a tornado

Tornados are definitely not something you want to play around with. If you ever find yourself on the road and you see a tornado, do not attempt to start driving away from it. Tornadoes can change direction in a snap of a finger and you might not be getting any safer by attempting to drive away. Instead, get out of the car and find somewhere low – a ditch or other below ground-level area will be the safest place to be.

7. Don’t try to defreeze ice with hot water

Ice can make driving difficult, whether it is covering the roads or the vehicle. Whenever you try to get rid of icy conditions, you need to use a defrosting chemical or a scraper. Never pour hot water to melt the ice; it might make it worse.

8. Pull over if you break down and warn others

if your car gets damaged in the bad weather, try to get away from the middle of the road. Turn on your emergency lights and if it’s safe to leave the vehicle, set up flares and signs 100m away from the car for others to see.

9. Use fog lights in foggy conditions

If you are driving in foggy conditions, remember to turn on the fog lights. The lights are more yellow and will make it easier for you and others to see where you are going. Never use foggy lights if the conditions don’t require it, even during a storm.

10.Be prepared

Finally, you should always be prepared for bad weather. Have a good emergency kit in the car that includes things such as a blanket, flashlight, matches, an emergency hammer, and so on. Furthermore, make sure you’ve serviced your car and checked your tyres. You can also visit Kwik Fit which offers special car servicing deals that are a good option to ensure you always drive with the most roadworthy vehicle at economical prices.