We don’t often hear about the dangers of driving during windy weather, but maybe we should.
No matter what car you drive, everyone’s felt that sudden shifting of your vehicle on the road when a strong wind kicks up. And it’s not just discomfort - strong winds can cause fatal accidents if you aren’t careful. Fortunately, this doesn’t mean you’re defenseless on the road. Here are five tips that will ensure your safety in blustery conditions.
- Drive slowly.
It’s the most obvious suggestion on this list, but that doesn’t mean it’s less important. Driving at high speeds will make your vehicle more prone to be shifted around by the wind. On top of that, driving faster means you’ll have less time to react if the wind does move your vehicle in a compromising direction. Slowing down won’t completely solve these issues, but it will greatly reduce their impact.
Moreover, if there’s any moisture on the road, driving at high speeds will make you vulnerable to hydroplaning as well. No matter how crunched you are for time, it’s not worth risking your safety.
- Make gentle corrections when your vehicle shifts.
It’s jarring to feel your vehicle be manipulated by strong winds. Many drivers can get startled and jerk their steering wheel too far in the opposite direction, which is a hazard on its own. You might not even realize you’re thrusting yourself into another lane where a car is hiding in your blind spot.
The best thing to do in windy weather is to keep calm. Make gentle, calculated corrections when you feel the wind, especially if visibility is poor.
- Keep your eye out for trees and debris.
Sometimes it’s not what’s on the road that gets you. It’s what’s above you and to the side of you. Strong winds can easily take branches off of trees that can spell trouble for your vehicle. Even worse, power lines can fall and block roads completely.
Unfortunately, it’s impossible for you to control the forces of nature. However, you can at least try to keep away from large trees if you can. And when you do park your vehicle, make sure there’s nothing around that could crash down and smash your hood.
- Watch out for large vehicles.
If you think your vehicle is hard to drive in bad weather, truck drivers have it even worse. The huge surface area of what they’re towing makes them more prone to the wind. In a worst-case scenario, the wind can completely topple trucks, especially when taking a sharp turn.
The best thing you can do in these situations is to give large vehicles plenty of space. Don’t try to pass them around turns or on tight roads, even if they’re going a little slow. You’ll keep yourself safer, and your fellow drivers on the road will thank you.
- Drive a vehicle with strong safety features.
At the end of the day, we have the power to prevent the majority of accidents in windy weather. Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee we’ll never get into an accident. That’s why they’re called accidents, after all. In these situations, it’s important to have a vehicle with strong safety features to rely on. In some cases, it can mean the difference between life and death.
If you’re worried that your current vehicle isn’t up to date on safety, please give me a call or send me a message. I’d love to show you the cutting edge safety features of the vehicles on our lot. No matter what vehicle you drive, you’re the most valuable thing inside it.
