Severe Weather Driving Tips
North Texas is in the tornado alley and gets its fair share of severe thunderstorms. Defensive driving techniques are particularly useful when faced with situations where being prepared could save your life. If you can help it, stay off the road. It sounds like a no-brainer, but sometimes we are so set in our routines that we skip the mental exercise of trying to avoid being on the road while bad weather is upon us. For example, do you think of calling your boss to let him know you are going to be an hour late because you are waiting out the storm? One positive thing about Texas weather is that it usually doesn’t stay the same for long. Storms typically blow through and if you can wait it out, that’s the best thing to do.
Should you find yourself on the road, here are some defensive driving tips to think about.
1. Turn on your radio and tune is to weather reports. Things can change quickly so stay as up to the last minute as you can.
2. Slow down and turn your low bean lights on. Change the 2 second rule to a 4 or 6 second rule.
3. If driving becomes impossible, pull over in a safe, off the road place. Turn your emergency lights on and stay in your car and wait for the rain intensity to diminish. Make sure not to stop in low laying areas where chances of flash flooding is higher.
4. Look out for downed trees and power lines that may be laying in the roadways.
5. Remember that a vehicle is a safer place to be in case of lightning than being outside in the open. While your are in the car, try to avoid touching metal objects.
6. When approaching an intersection, treat it like a stop sign instead of a stop light.
For more tips on bad weather and emergencies driving check out WirelessDefensiveDriving.com podcast at YouTube – Defensive Driving Emergencies.
