There are
several elements that could pose a danger in the road, such as wild animals,
accidents, landslides, or even careless drivers.
Among these
elements that are beyond the driver’s control is driving in adverse weather
conditions. They can cause the traffic to slow down, as well as visibility
issues, and in some cases, even an accident. So today, we are going to talk
about adverse weather conditions and how to drive when the weather is harsh.
First of
all, we need to clarify what “adverse weather conditions” means.
The
American Code of Federal Regulations defines adverse weather conditions as the
set of atmospheric conditions such as intense snow, wind, ice, or rain that were
not known, or could not be known, to a driver, and which could pose a serious
danger for road users. Some of the dangers of heavy rain include: hydroplaning,
hard braking, and visibility issues, among others.
Malaysian
drivers often experience intense rain, especially during the monsoon
season from
October to March. Luckily these types of conditions should be beginning to
subside now, but it is still a good idea to know all these driving techniques
for the future
That’s why,
on this post of our blog, we will offer some advice on how to drive when the
weather conditions are not ideal:
Check
your lights before starting your journey
As we mentioned on
our previous blog on how to prepare for a night time ride, good visibility is always crucial,
especially with adverse conditions such as heavy rain or fog. That’s why
checking your front and rear lights is particularly important in order to be
able to see, and more importantly, to be seen.
Use the
3 to 4 second rule
Keeping your distance
with other vehicles is always recommended, but when it comes to adverse weather
conditions, a few seconds can really make the difference between avoiding an
accident and causing it.
Wet or
slippery roads can make tyres lose traction and skid more easily. That’s why keeping
a larger distance between you and the car in front of you can help you to avoid
a collision if you skid when braking. For that reason, it’s advisable to stay 3-4 seconds
behind the car in front of you. This is called the 3-4 second rule and has
helped prevent many road accidents.
Avoid
high speeds
Driving at high
speeds can increase the risk of accidents on the road. If you add harsh weather
conditions to the equation, the risk of collision increases exponentially.
That’s why, we would recommend to slow down, accelerate and decelerate slowly,
specially before a turn or bend, and pay close attention to what’s happening on
the road. On the other hand, it would also be advisable to avoid breaking
abruptly, since that would increase the risk of aquaplaning.
Use
higher gears
To avoid skidding,
it is always advisable to put your car in a high gear and drive slowly. That
way, you’ll prevent the wheels from spinning, and hence allow your car to drive
smoothly over the icy or slippery surface. If your car already started
skidding, try to steer in the direction that you are skidding. This
way, you’ll align your tyres in the same direction the car is sliding so they
can roll with the inertia.
Pull
over if you need to
Sometimes it is
best to stay safe and simply stop the vehicle. So, if you find yourself stuck
in heavy rain, snow, or if the fog is too dense to continue, try to pull over
somewhere safe, and wait until it passes.
Avoid
any distractions
On a
previous post of our blog, we mentioned how important it is to stay focused
while driving and avoid distractions in order to prevent possible
accidents. With adverse weather conditions it is extremely important to keep
your senses sharp and stay alert to spot any strange events or noises near you.
For greater focus, try driving without listening to music or with your windows
down. This way, it’ll be easier for you to hear other vehicles on the road that
are close to you.
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