Driving in stormy weather is scary, but it’s also inevitable in Nebraska. Instead of hoping it won’t happen to you, arm yourself with the knowledge of what to do next time you’re in your vehicle when a storm hits.
Your safe maneuvers will help prevent a common accident, as one of every five vehicle crashes in the United States is related to weather, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.
Avoid being a negative statistic with these four tips for driving in storms.
Slow down
Stormy weather makes it difficult to see, so drive slower than you would on a sunny day, even if it means going below the speed limit.
“If visibility is low, you need to slow way down,” according to dmv.org. “If you can't see more than a few feet in front of your vehicle, it is unsafe to drive ? at all. In this case, pull off the road as far as you can, turn on your hazards, and get away from the vehicle and the roadway in case your car is struck by another motorist who can't see anything either.”
If you can keep driving, come to gradual stops, as opposed to slamming the brakes at red lights and turns, according to the Nebraska Department of Roads. If you’re in a hurry, driving slowly could help you arrive at your destination faster than if you step on the gas and cause an accident.
Steer into a skid
When your tires lose traction on slippery roads, look in the direction you want to go because that’s the direction you should steer.
“Say you're going around a turn to the right, and your back end starts to come around too far,” performance driving instructor Forest Duplessis says on How Stuff Works. “This is called oversteer, by the way. The nose of your car is now pointed too far to the right, right? What you need to do is countersteer to bring the car back to the direction you were trying to go in the first place. In this case, you need to point the car a bit to the left to keep it in the street and not on the sidewalk.”
Avoid over-correcting by slightly moving your steering wheel in the right direction.
Leave extra space between vehicles
You’ve likely heard of the three-second rule that says you should be three seconds behind the vehicle in front of you so, if it suddenly brakes, you have enough time to stop without hitting it.
That’s a good rule — for good weather. In stormy weather, smartmotorist.com recommends doubling or tripling that time. Start with a conservative nine seconds and decrease to six seconds only if it is safe to do so.
Be patient with other drivers by not forcing them to keep away from you.
“If the driver behind you can't leave the proper distance between their front bumper and your rear end, don't respond by hitting the brakes,” dmv.org says. “Simply maintain your speed. If you leave enough room in front of you, there will be space for the aggressive driver to pass and get back into rushing along.”
Plan ahead
The best way to drive safely in a storm is to prevent problems. Do so by checking the weather before you head out, and plan your trip around poor driving conditions or, if needed, stay put. Keep your gas tank full on long trips to avoid getting stranded somewhere without gas stations for miles around.
Additionally, your car should be stocked with an emergency preparedness kit, which could include “high-protein snacks, water, first aid kit, flashlight, small battery-operated radio, an emergency contact card with names and phone numbers, extra prescription medications and important documents or information you may need,” according to the American Red Cross.
Finally, take care of your car by keeping up with its scheduled maintenance and getting new tires when the old ones wear out. Try Jensen Tire & Auto, which offers quality products and service for low prices at many convenient locations.
