The best way to be safe in extremely bad weather is to avoid driving at all. However, that’s not always possible. In addition, bad weather can be unpredictable and it’s common to get caught out while on the road.
These basic safe driving principles apply in all adverse conditions:
- Slow right down – if visibility is poor or the road is wet or icy, it will take you longer to react to hazards and your speed should be reduced accordingly. If you have a temperature gauge in your vehicle that is showing zero degrees or below, then presume that the roads will be icy.
- Maintain a safe gap behind the vehicle in front – stopping distances are double in the wet and ten times greater in icy weather. The gap between you and the vehicle in front is your braking space in a crisis.
- Look out for vulnerable road users – be aware that people on foot, bicycles, motorbikes and horses are harder to spot in adverse weather and in the dark. Drive as though someone could step out in front of you at any time.
- Look out for signs warning of adverse conditions – including fixed signs, such as those warning of exposure to high winds, and variable message signs on motorways that warn of fog, snow and which may display temporary slower speed limits.
- Stay in control – avoid harsh braking and acceleration, and carry out manoeuvres slowly and with extra care.
- Use lights – put lights on in gloomy weather or when visibility is reduced. Only use front and rear fog lights in dense fog.
- Listen to travel news on local radio so you know where problem areas are.
Travelling in flooded areas
If you are travelling through areas affected by flooding, please follow this advice:
- Don’t drive through standing water – as well as the water damaging your car, there may be hazards under the water you can’t see, or it may be a lot deeper than you realise. If you see a sign to say that the road is closed due to flooding, remember the sign is there for a reason. Don’t try to drive through or you might get stuck.
- If you are driving a larger vehicle, do not go through flood water at speed as this creates a ‘bow wave’ that can then cause flooding to adjacent properties.
- If you do break down in flooding, firefighters can only rescue you and anyone else in the vehicle. It is your responsibility to get the vehicle recovered.
- When driving, if heavy rain is making visibility difficult, pull over if possible.
- Remember that roads will be slippery during wet conditions.
- Don’t try and walk through floodwater that is above knee level, as the force of the water could easily knock you off your feet. There is also a danger of open manholes, trenches or other hazards that you can’t see.