The weather can take a turn for the worse in Minnesota when you least expect it. If this happens while you’re driving, it’s critical to adjust your style to improve your safety.
Driving in heavy rain and/or wind is never easy, as you’re faced with a variety of challenges. Fortunately, when you know how to drive in inclement weather, it’s easier to proceed with confidence.
Here are three tips to follow when driving in heavy rain:
- Use your headlights: This increases your visibility, thus allowing you to see as far ahead as possible. It also improves the ability of other drivers to see your vehicle, such as when driving toward them on a two-lane road.
- Leave more space: It’s more difficult to stop your vehicle in wet conditions, so you should leave an extra one to two seconds of following time if it’s raining.
- Slow down: The faster you drive on wet roads, the greater chance there is that you’ll hydroplane and lose control of your vehicle. Slowing down is one of the best ways to maintain your safety.
If you’re contending with heavy wind, here’s what you need to do:
- Beware of larger vehicles: Commercial trucks, recreational vehicles and buses often find it difficult to stay in their lane in windy conditions. Keeping your distance from these high profile vehicles will help you prevent an accident.
- Anticipate wind gusts: If a gust of wind hits your vehicle, it’s possible you could be knocked out of your lane of travel. Keep both hands on the wheel to protect against this.
- Slow down: Just the same as driving in the rain, you should slow down when the wind picks up. This gives you more confidence that you can maintain control of your vehicle.
Even if you follow these tips for safe driving in heavy rain and wind, you never know if other drivers will do the same. It’s likely that you’ll spot at least one person who is ignoring the weather conditions.
If you’re injured in a motor vehicle accident, seek medical treatment and then contact your insurance company. Do whatever it takes to hold the negligent driver responsible for causing the accident that resulted in your injuries.
Read our blog for more information on motor vehicle accidents.