Whether you drive for work or pleasure, you should pay attention to road conditions and slow down when needed. Driving can become hazardous when the weather turns bad, and some of the most dangerous driving conditions include rain, snow, fog, wind and ice.
Night Driving
Night driving is especially hazardous, as drivers may be tired and visibility is reduced. Headlight glare from oncoming vehicles can also temporarily dazzle drivers. To help, take regular breaks when driving at night and reduce your speed when visibility gets worse.
Hail
Hail can damage a vehicle and make the road surface slippery, and heavy hail can severely reduce visibility. If you are caught in a hailstorm, slow down, use dipped headlights and stay alert to other drivers. If it is safe to do so, consider pulling over until the storm has passed.
Drive Defensively
In any bad weather, use dipped headlights, slow down and pay attention to other drivers, always keeping within the speed limit. Leave a bigger gap to the vehicle in front and don’t rush. If conditions become too dangerous, it is better to stop somewhere safe than to push on.
Roadworks and Hazards
Pay particular attention to changing circumstances on the road ahead, slowing down when approaching temporary traffic lights or roadworks, for example. Roadworks vehicles display reflective chevrons, so they should be easier to spot in poor weather and at night. For more details on Chapter 8 livery, visit PVL UK
Heavy Rain
Driving in heavy rain can also lead to serious accidents. It’s best to avoid the roads, but if you must drive, use dipped headlights and reduce your speed, as stopping distances are at least doubled in the wet. Narrow roads, sharp bends and single-track bridges can be particularly dangerous in poor conditions.
Make sure everything on your car is working properly before setting off. Worn tyres reduce grip on wet roads, so check your tread depth, and make sure your wipers are in good condition.
Ice, Snow and Fog
Ice and snow can also pose dangers to drivers. Worn tyres are a major hazard on icy roads. In these conditions, slow down, use the highest gear you can to avoid wheel spin, and brake gently to avoid skidding, as stopping distances can be up to ten times longer on ice. Visibility in snow and fog can also be very poor. Make sure you know where your fog lights are so you can switch them on when visibility drops below 100 metres, and turn them off again when it improves.
Related: Preparing your car for motorway driving in the winter
Flood water, aquaplaning and snow
Heavy rain causes more trouble than poor visibility alone. Standing water can be deeper than it looks, and driving into it can flood the engine or, in deeper water, lift the car so it starts to float. If a road is flooded, find another route. On fast roads, surface water can cause aquaplaning, where the tyres lose contact with the road. If the steering suddenly feels light, ease off the accelerator, do not brake, and wait for the grip to return.
In snow, gentleness is everything. Pull away in second gear with low revs, keep to as high a gear as is practical, and leave a much larger gap than usual, because stopping distances can be many times longer on snow and ice. If the car begins to skid, ease off the accelerator and steer gently in the direction of the skid rather than braking hard. Check your tyre tread, wipers and screenwash before setting off.
Being seen when visibility drops
In fog, falling snow and heavy spray, being visible matters as much as being able to see. Make sure all your lights work and are clean, along with the reflectors and number plates, which can quickly be covered in road grime or snow. Use dipped headlights whenever visibility is reduced, and fog lights only when it is seriously poor, switching them off again when it improves so they do not dazzle others.
Reflective material plays its part too. Working vehicles often carry reflective strips and chevrons so their size and shape show up in headlights, and the same principle applies to everyone else. Keeping a high-visibility vest in the car is worthwhile in case you break down and need to get out at the roadside. Pedestrians and cyclists in dark clothing are very hard to spot in poor conditions, so expect them, slow down near footpaths and junctions, and give them plenty of room.
Checks to make before a long drive
Bad weather is harder to handle in a car that has not been checked or by a driver who is not fully alert. Before setting off, look over the tyres, lights, windscreen and bodywork, listen for unusual sounds, and watch for warning lights or excessive smoke. Spotting a problem early can prevent a dangerous fault or a breakdown on the road.
Your own state of mind matters just as much. Lack of sleep, a hangover, or being very worried or stressed all make driving more dangerous, because you are less alert to what is happening around you and more likely to make poor decisions. If you feel like this, it is better not to drive. Professional drivers of larger vehicles must also follow the rules on drivers’ hours and rest breaks.
Smooth driving helps too. Keeping to a steady speed and avoiding harsh acceleration and braking saves fuel and leaves more margin for error when conditions turn.