Driving in Adverse Weather

Spring brings sunshine and beautiful blooms, making it the perfect time to clean or maintain your garden. But spring also means storms, which bring rain, hail, cold temperatures, and other dangerous conditions.

Driving safely is even harder in adverse weather, and sometimes it’s difficult to know what to do. So let’s refresh how to drive safely under any conditions.

  1. Wear your seatbelt

It’s very tempting not to buckle up when you’re just going down the block, but accidents are actually most likely to occur when you’re close to home. Even if you are making a quick trip close to home or work, buckle up to keep yourself safe (and insist that your passengers wear a seatbelt, too).

  1. Put your phone down

We all know that using your phone while you drive isn’t safe, but it’s still tempting to check your phone. To stay safer, use a hands-free device or find a place to safely pull off.

Your best bet is just to leave your phone alone until you’ve reached your destination. One way to help is to put your phone on silent.

Teens are especially tempted by their phones; check out our blog post about five things to talk about with your teen driver to keep them safe.

  1. Pay attention on the freeway

Driving on the freeway means higher speed limits, but that doesn’t mean it’s the Autobahn. Driving too fast or too slow can get you a ticket. Going the speed limit is the best way to stay safe and avoid paying a fine.

But even though you drive safely, that doesn’t mean everyone else does. Stay aware of other drivers, and always make sure to use your blinker, check your mirrors, and check your blind spot before moving lanes.

  1. Know the right-of-way rules

When in doubt, use this rule of thumb:

If you would disrupt the flow of traffic if you moved, the other person has the right-of-way.

So, if you’re cutting through the path of another driver, you usually must yield or stop. Here are some helpful right-of-way rules for confusing situations:

  • Yield to the person to your right if you both arrive at a stop sign at the same time.
  • Yield to the cars coming towards you when you turn left at a green light.
  • Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks.
  1. Follow rules for school vehicles and emergency vehicles

No matter what side of the street you’re on, you need to stop for school buses and emergency vehicle:

  • For school buses, stop when they use their stop signs.
    • If the street is divided by a median, then you may be allowed to keep driving if you’re headed the opposite direction. (But some states vary.)
  • For emergency vehicles with their lights and alarms going, pull over and stop on the side of the road.
    • If it would be dangerous to pull over, then slow to a stop and make sure they have room to go around you.

Helpful driving tips for adverse weather

Hail, snow, and ice can make roads dangerous to traverse. It’s safest to stay at home, but if you must drive, follow these rules to stay safe:

  • Reduce your speed.
  • Put your headlights on low beams (high beams can cause a glare in rain).
  • Brake slowly with plenty of distance to come to a complete stop. Never slam on your brakes when the road is wet.
  • Accelerate slowly after stopping to avoid your tires skidding.
  • Never use cruise control.
  • If you hydroplane, ease off the gas pedal slowly and keep the wheel steady.
  • During poor visibility, don’t pass, merge, or cross into a different lane. If you have to, go slowly and use your blinker.
  • Put on your hazard lights if you ever feel unsafe to warn other drivers.

Even when following the rules and driving cautiously, sometimes accidents do happen.

What to Do In An Accident

Call law enforcement

Contact the police as soon as you and the other car are safe. Even if it was just a fender bender, calling the police is a smart plan. They can help you gather the right information and keep you safe.

Take photos

Snap pictures of the position of your vehicle, the other party’s vehicle, and the surrounding areas. You can also get photos of other party’s driver’s license and insurance card, or you can write it down.

Contact your agent

Make sure you call your agent as soon as possible to start the claims process after an accident. Be sure to relay all necessary information and keep contacting them throughout the claims process.

Drive safely and contact us if you have questions about home or vehicle insurance!