6 Tips For Driving in Bad Weather

Whether you’re a new driver or you’ve had your license for years, driving in bad weather can be intimidating.

Large storms bring powerful winds and slippery roads that impact your ability to control a vehicle safely. In fact, approximately twenty-one percent of vehicular accidents occur each year in hazardous weather conditions. We want all drivers to stay safe, so we’ve come up with a few tips for managing cars in rain, snow, sleet, or ice. 

1. Slow down

Bad weather driving is a challenge many do their best to avoid.

Under some circumstances, though, there’s no choice but to grit your teeth and bear slippery, soaking wet roads.

This first piece of advice is worth considering, even if you love living life in the fast lane. Though speeding is dangerous even in the best conditions, wet roads make it even more unsafe.

When you drive too quickly, your tires can lose grip and control. With less traction, your ability to steer or correct the vehicle decreases, making it much easier to skid or slide out of control and get into accidents.

Driving too quickly on wet roads also increases the risks of hydroplaning, the phenomenon during which tires lose contact with damp roads. Hydroplaning often leads to skidding, loss of vehicle stability, and reduced brake effectiveness. 

When driving in bad weather, observe the rate at which other drivers move and don’t go overly fast. Even if you have an important destination ahead of you, rushing is not worth the risks of driving in heavy snow or rain. 

2. Don't use cruise control

Cruise control is a modern vehicle feature that lets you maintain a constant driving speed while removing your foot from the gas pedal.  Once you decide on a speed you want, cruise control systems keep the car moving at that speed throughout your drive. Cruise control can make you more comfortable on long stretches of road by reducing stiffness and fatigue.

While relinquishing control might sometimes be convenient, doing so in bad weather is ill-advised. Cruise control systems sometimes cause cars to move faster when a vehicle loses traction, contradicting the rule of thumb about not speeding in bad weather conditions. Because you don’t have a foot on the gas pedal when cruise control is activated, your reaction times will likely be slower.

This tip also applies to other auto-driving tools like lane keep assist and automatic emergency braking. 

Since you can’t control wind and rain outside, it's best to take advantage of the thing you can possess total control of: your car. 

3. Don’t brake suddenly 

When moving on wet or icy roads, sudden braking can be extremely dangerous. This is because tires lose grip and friction on damp surfaces. On slick roads, hard braking can cause wheels to lock or slide, ultimately leading to skidding. Even a brief loss of traction can make a vehicle drift, fishtail, or spin completely out of control. 

Because abrupt braking is so risky in bad weather conditions, you must give yourself plenty of space on the road. A wider distance between your vehicle and others on the road affords you extra time to react and slow down gradually. This additional space acts as a buffer, and it's especially critical in bad weather. By easing off the accelerator slowly and braking gently, you stay in control of your vehicle.

4. Stay alert

Bad news for nonchalant drivers: your passive approach behind the wheel won’t fly in bad weather.

The ability to stay calm under pressure is a great trait, but you can run into problems in severe weather conditions when calm becomes casual. When you’re driving through a downpour or navigating snowy roads, driving can shift from safe to hazardous in an instant. That’s why it’s critical to stay fully engaged, maintaining total focus on the road and staying aware of weather changes, the decisions of other drivers, and obstacles like slush or snow buildup.

While keeping a cool head is impressive, it’s also necessary to stay vigilant in extreme conditions. Stay alert, and avoid driving absentmindedly. Paying extra close attention to your surroundings might prove to be a lifesaving measure. 

5. Don’t underestimate water depth

When rainstorms are severe enough, flooding can pose a significant challenge.

If you see a lot of water collecting in one place, don’t assume your car can safely make it to the other side. Water, especially moving water, can carry cars downstream and even result in drowning deaths.

If you see signs of flooding like heavy, persistent rain or backed-up sewers, the best thing to do is turn around. Cities and emergency crews often set up barricades around deep or dangerous flood zones, and these should be your signal to avoid those areas.

When you encounter standing or flowing water on the road, it’s best to find an alternate route. Turning around may feel inconvenient in the moment, but it could also save your life.

6. Know when to stay inside

We’ve all gotten caught in a minor storm of some kind, but there are certain conditions in which driving should not be done at all. Massive storms such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards are generally too dangerous for any driving, and we strongly recommend remaining indoors until things have calmed down. 

Navigate severe weather with Transwest

Though the glitz and glam of new cars are alluring, safety takes priority above all else. At Transwest, we sell vehicles that are sturdy and reliable, so you and your family can feel safe no matter the weather. Visit one of our locations today and speak with an expert about which car best matches your needs. Of course, if the weather is too bad for driving, you can start by browsing our online selection.