Freezing fog, torrential rain, black ice, snow, high winds, sand storms, flash floods. People often forget the impact that nature can have on safety, especially on the roads. Although car accidents are often caused by drunk driving, speeding, recklessness, or cell phone use, they can also be caused when motorists fail to show due caution when driving in adverse weather conditions. It takes discernment to know when to take to the roads and skill to maneuver when caught in a blizzard or when blinded by fog. As drivers, it is our responsibility to be safe when driving in bad weather. Not only that, but if someone else is injured because a driver was not as careful as they should be, they could be held liable for any property damage or injuries that were caused.
Even in March, there are still parts of America that are affected by snow and ice. In order to be as safe as possible when the roads are covered in a sheet of ice, it is recommended that you do not drive at all. Unfortunately, this is sometimes not an option and people must take to the roads. Usually, the state or local government will deploy snow plows to clear the roads, so it is advisable to wait until they have done their work before you take to the roads. Not only that, but you should leave as least three times as room between you and the car in front of you.
When driving on either snow or ice, your speed should also be greatly decreased and you should brake more slowly than usual. Slamming on your brakes may be affective when the roads are dry; braking suddenly on ice will only cause you do skid and lose control. Braking may also cause your wheels to lock up. Even if it is during the day, always drive with your headlights on so that you are clearly visible to other motorists.
Another often frightening weather condition is fog. When you cannot see more than one foot in front of your car, it can cause the driver to panic and become disorientated. It can be next to impossible to avoid driving in fog as it can envelop an area suddenly, without any warning. In order to define what fog is, it is as if a cloud is resting at ground level. When the temperature drops to dew point, water droplets are suspended in the air.
If you have found yourself surrounded by fog, there are some safety tips to remember regarding safety. First never use your high beam lights – these will only reflect on the fog, limiting your visibility even more. Also remember that it is hard to judge how fast you are actually going when in fog. Therefore, it is important to reduce speed as much as possible and watch the speedometer. You can even roll your window down slightly so that you can hear approaching traffic as you may not be able to see them. Lastly, when the white and yellow lines marking your lane. These may be the only guides you can trust as your other senses are impaired.
Hurricanes, thunderstorms, and winter storms are often accompanied by heavy rain. If you are driving under these conditions, one thing you should be aware of is the possibility of a flash flood. These can occur within a matter of minutes if it causes a dam to burst or a river to escape from its banks. Sometimes there is no possible way to avoid a flash flood, however, there are some tips to keep in mind regarding staying safe. If you see a flooded area ahead, do not attempt to cross it. Too many people wrongly judge the depth and speed of the flowing water, resulting in their vehicle being swept off the road and carried along the river. Whatever adverse weather condition you found yourself in, if you were injured when another driver failed to show reasonable caution, they could be held liable for your injuries. Contact a personal injury lawyer from our local area to learn more.