At some point in time, all drivers are confrontedwith bad weather conditions. Many drivers, unfortunately do not comprehend the adjustments which are needed in the technique of driving. Most of all crashes that occur are due to and during the bad weather conditions such as ice, rain and snow. Many drivers who are accustomed to driving in sunny weather mostly and have a new drivers’ license have not really dealt with the trialsas offered by bad weather conditions. Therefore it is the prime duty of a driver to understand and know how to adjust his driving skills in order to meet conditions he would experience on the road. There are certain people who have used trucks in Ontario therefore this article is a must-read for them.
Bad weather conditions are those which are brought about by variations in weather conditions in which the driver must exercise special care and therefore adjust his normal driving pattern. Generally, these conditions lead to reduce the visibility and the driver is not able to safely drive through or apply the brakes to the vehicle.
Certain adverse weather conditions include:
- Rain
- Strong winds
- Hail storms
- Flooding
- Snow
- Fog and Mist
- Smoke from veld and forest fire
- Driving toward the sun from sunrise to sunset
- Extreme cold and hot weather
The driver must be able to recognize these conditions as these would present unique challenges to the driver such as
- Increased time and space required to bring the vehicle to a stop.
- Reduced visibility
- Reduced traction
- Reduced steering ability
Driving techniques in bad weather conditions
If you are caught on the road amidst bad weather conditions, the driver must be aware of the following safe driving tips:
- The drivers of the used trucks in Ontario must make sure their headlights are on – the rule of the thumb is “Be Visible Be Seen”
- Adhere to all the road and traffic signs – The Safety authorities have posted this information with good intentions.
- Always be alert and drive defensively.
- Make sure that you are not changing the lanes unnecessarily. Try to stay in one lane as much as you can.
- Place your hands firmly on the steering wheel and have your eyes on the road. Do not get distracted.
- Always remain conscious of the area and be alert.
- Prepare yourself for all kinds of bad road conditions as well in order to change over relatively short distances.
- Give yourself adequate space and time to react to an emergency and make sure that you do not stop your vehicle abruptly.
- Do not accelerate unnecessarily and keep driving in a slow pace. The slower you move, better the control you would have on your vehicle.
- Also do not slow down so much that you end up becoming a threat to the people following you.
- In poor visibility conditions, follow the tail lights of the vehicles moving in front of you. Also keep adequate space between your vehicle and the one that you are following.
- Avoid sudden actions on the icy and slippery roads, as it could lead to loss of control.
- Always be cautious near the intersections as you could not be sure whether the other drivers have seen the lights or not.
- Do not leave your kids or pets in such chilled and warm conditions.
