Weather conditions can affect driving safety in a number of ways. For most people, however, staying home in bad weather is not a realistic option. Understanding weather-related dangers and how to minimize or avoid them can go a long way towards helping you stay safe on the road.
Get informed
Checking out weather reports and road conditions for your area before leaving can help you navigate around the most affected places. For example, low-lying stretches of roadway can flood during heavy rainfall. Get available information and use your judgment to avoid the most dangerous areas.
Watch out for slippery surfaces
Rain, ice and snow can all cause road surfaces to become slippery, drastically reducing the wheel traction that allows you to maneuver your car. Very heavy rain can even cause hydroplaning, when a vehicle travels over a sheet of water and becomes very difficult to control. Beware also of snowfall that can cover stretches of ice. If you have to travel in any of these conditions, reducing acceleration can keep you safer. Forget about the posted speed limit; you may need to go much slower than that to keep control of your car.
Visibility
Weather can also affect visibility on the road. Rain, snow, fog and bright sunshine can limit how far you can see your surroundings. You can mitigate the effects of some of these by using sunglasses and a window visor in sunny weather and by ensuring that your windshield wipers are working well. While these precautions will help, the most important thing you can do is keep your speed down and your senses on high alert. Going slowly and maintaining your distance from other vehicles will give you a bigger window of time to react to an emerging hazard.
Use your headlights to make it easier for other drivers to see you, even during daytime. Ohio law requires drivers to turn on headlights in conditions that reduce visibility or require you to use your windshield wipers.
Remember that every driver on the road with you is dealing with the same adverse conditions. Your driving should account for the possibility that motorists traveling near you may lose control of their vehicles or need to stop suddenly.
Even when we take every precaution, accidents still happen. If you get injured in a car accident, do not wait for the medical bills and lost workdays to pile up. An experienced attorney can help you get the compensation you are entitled to. Contacting a lawyer right away is the best way to make sure your lawsuit goes smoothly.