If you are traveling home for the Christmas holidays, it is extremely important that you be as cautious as possible. The roads can be slippery and wet, and the number of accidents always increases dramatically.
Driving can be dangerous no matter what the conditions are, but winter weather poses a whole new set of concerns for drivers. Cars tend to break down more in the winter as liquids in your car can freeze and parts of your car become more brittle.
During times of dangerous weather, roads become slippery with snow and ice, and visibility plummets because of gray skies and rain. You might wish you could just hibernate for the winter, but you know that eventually you will have to drive.
Always check weather and travel conditions before heading out. Do not take chances if the weather is bad; it is simply not worth the risk.
Give yourself extra time for travel. Go slowly especially if precipitation is falling or if there is ice or snow on the road.
It's okay to go under the speed limit when conditions are bad. In fact, it's the smart thing to do.
Take turns slowly to avoid losing traction. If you find that you are skidding out of control, take your foot off the brake, step on the clutch or shift to neutral, then look where you want your vehicle to go and steer in that direction.
Allow extra space between your car and other vehicles. It takes longer to stop on a slippery road, so double or triple the space you usually leave between you and the car in front of you.
Lastly, it is important that you stay alert. While you may be driving safely, others may not be.
Pay attention and be prepared for others to make mistakes. Each year, there are thousands of car accidents (some of them fatal) due to wet roads and poor driving conditions in the rain.
Don't become a statistic. Here are some practical tips to help you know how to recognize dangerous conditions and drive safely when the road gets wet.
Your best thing you can do to prevent an accident on a slick road is to slow down. When you drive slowly, a greater amount of the tire's tread makes contact with the road, giving you better traction.
Try to drive at a steady pace, and avoid jerky movements when braking, accelerating, or turning. It takes up to three times longer to stop on a wet road than a dry one, even if your tires are designed for wet weather and are of good quality.
Remember, don't trail closely behind other vehicles; three car-lengths is a safe distance to be behind a vehicle that's in front of you. Be alert for brake lights ahead of you.
Always turn on your headlights so that other cars can see you. Drive without the cruise control; it will help you to be more aware.
If your car starts to skid, don't slam on the brakes. Apply the brakes in a firm but steady manner and steer in the direction of the skid.
If your car has anti-lock brakes, apply more pressure to the brakes but do not pump them. If there is water on the road, you may be in danger of losing control of your car due to hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning occurs when your tires glide across the surface of the water on the road. If you start to hydroplane, take your foot off the gas, but don't slam on the brakes.
If you have a manual transmission, push down on the clutch and let the car slow down on its own. If you have automatic transmission, hold the steering wheel steady and lightly apply the brakes.
Driving in wet weather requires extreme alertness, particularly at night. If you're tired, find a safe place to pull over and take a rest.
Avoid distractions such as eating, drinking, talking on the phone, fiddling with the radio, or handing items to children in the back seat -- anything where you need to take one or both hands off the wheel. Driving with bad (or bald) tires can only make things worse.
Check your tires regularly for tread wear; the treads should be at least 1/16 in depth to perform safely in the rain. Have the air pressure checked at least once a month.
With these tips, you can be sure to make it home safely for the holidays. Happy driving!
Author Resource:-
Tom Selwick is a public safety representative for 25 years and has authored hundreds of articles relating to public safety and safety signs. He has worked in public safety for years promoting safe transportation practices.
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