How to Stay Safe When Taking a Road Trip in Bad Weather

None of us like the idea of driving in bad weather. This is because bad weather can make driving a whole lot trickier. Not only that, but driving in bad weather is also much more dangerous. The good news for people who have to drive in bad weather conditions such as strong winds, heavy rain, snow, or fog, is that there are lots of things you can do to remain safe while driving. Here are some of our top tips to help you:

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Travel on Well Maintained Roads

One of the best tips we can give you that will help you to remain safe when driving is to choose a route where the roads are well maintained. Instead of taking back streets where the roads have potholes or are narrow and windy, try and stick to a route where the roads have been properly looked after and there are plenty of services along the way. Always search the weather of where you are traveling, ie search for Bristol weather if you are traveling through Bristol, this way you can check if it is due to be icy, that the main roads on the route would be gritted, etc.

If at all possible, it’s a good idea to try and stick to roads that have been finished with high friction surfacing treatment. Evidence suggests that these roads are much safer in bad weather conditions as they offer better traction. There are also several other high friction surfacing benefits; for example, they are more durable than other road surfaces too.

Check Your Car is Ready for Bad Weather

There are several checks you need to do to make sure that your car is ready for bad weather conditions. Here are some of the most important checks you should carry out:

Ensure your windows, mirrors, and lights are clean and free from snow and ice.
Make sure that your lights and wipers are working correctly.
Add some antifreeze to your car’s radiator and some winter additive to your window wiper fluid.
Check to make sure that your tires are in good condition. For example, you will need to make sure that they have the right amount of air in them and that they have enough tread depth.
Ensure you have a full tank of fuel.

Drive Slowly

Driving quickly in bad weather can be dangerous. Instead, allow extra time for your journey and take it steady. Driving slowly and carefully will decrease the chance of accidents occurring.

Leave Plenty of Space Between Vehicles

If you want to remain safe while driving in bad weather, you will need to ensure that you stay a safe distance from the car in front. In fact, many experts suggest that when driving in bad weather, we should leave double the space between us and the car in front. This is because breaking in poor weather can take much longer.

Be Prepared for Bad Weather

Another great tip when traveling in bad weather is to make sure that you have all of the essentials you need in case of an emergency. You never know when you might be involved in a crash or stranded in heavy snow. The very least you need is a first aid travel bag, but here are some more things you should keep in your car just in case you get stranded:

Warm, dry clothing – this includes jumpers, a hat, gloves, boots
Blankets
Snow/ice scraper
Shovel
Torch
Food and drink
A fully charged mobile phone and charger
Money
First aid

Weather conditions in the US have become so changeable over the last few years, from biblical downpours to scorching temperatures to thick snow – we’ve seen it all. As we adapt to these changes in weather conditions, we also need to adapt our driving styles. This will help us to navigate the roads as safely as possible. If you’re driving in adverse weather conditions, make sure you follow our top tips above to stay safe on the roads.