As a towing service in Woodstock VA, we want to ensure our customers remain safe and secure on the road, so here are a few tips for climatizing your driving. Freak weather conditions are being reported more regularly worldwide, and it seems that extreme weather is becoming more common. With extreme weather changing road conditions, we must learn to adapt to avoid accidents.
Battling the Heat
Hot weather isn’t usually something to complain about, but it can quickly become uncomfortable in the right conditions. There are a few concerns when it comes to hot weather that relates more to the driver than the car or road.
Heat Stroke and Migraine
Strange things can happen to our bodies in extreme heat. When our body is exposed to prolonged periods of extreme heat, for example, sitting in traffic in the mid-Summer sun, we can experience heat stroke. The usual symptoms are headache and dizziness, but feeling sick, cramped, or clammy are also giveaways. One may also fall victim to a migraine, a severe headache that can also be caused by exposure. The best way to avoid these problems is to ensure the A/C in your car is working and avoiding peak traffic during the hotter times of the day.
Dehydration
While it is linked to heat stroke and migraines, dehydration should be taken more seriously as it can have more subtle effects on us. From impairing decision-making to eventually causing us to faint, dehydration is a common cause of health issues in the Summer months. Of course, the best way to avoid dehydration is by hydrating, but also ensure that you’re getting electrolytes from a healthy source.
Fiery Tension
The sun doesn’t just make us feel physically unwell, it can also cause frustration that can lead to road rage. While it may be difficult, keeping your cool during hotter months can minimize any road rage-related accidents.
Weathering the Rain
While the sun affects us more than road conditions, the rain has the opposite effect. Rain makes road surfaces slippery, which can affect our driving, especially at speed or on corners. When driving in the rain, there are a couple of age-old tips that are worth remembering.
The Four Second Rule
When driving behind someone, we should aim to keep two seconds between our vehicles. This can usually be gauged by counting the seconds it takes for you to pass a landmark that the car in front has passed. When it’s raining, however, we should extend this to four seconds to accommodate for the slipperiness of the wet road. It can be hard to know exactly how long a second is, so counting ‘1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, etc.’ can help.
Check Your Tread Out Before You Head Out
The tread on your car’s tires is largely responsible for keeping you stuck on the road at all times, especially in the rain. There are specially made grooves that allow the car to move over the road but still retain that ever-important friction. This tread is slowly worn over time, and once it gets to a certain point will require the whole tire to be replaced. Be sure to check your tread regularly to ensure that there is still a safe amount left.
Rained Out
Sometimes when it rains, it pours, and no amount of windscreen wiping and squinting can compensate for how blind this amount of rain makes a driver. It’s in these conditions that mistakes are made, as not only does the rain impair visibility, but it is also very distracting. If it is raining heavily, then consider putting off driving if possible. Otherwise, if you’re driving, and it starts pelting down, then try to find a safe place to pull over and wait it out.
Surviving the Snow
Unlike rain and sun, snow presents an array of much more serious risks when driving, as it can affect the road and the driver. With snow usually comes extremely cold weather, which can range from being distracting to outright uncomfortable. When it comes to driving in the snow, it isn’t too dissimilar to driving in the rain in that you need to be much more careful. Additionally, your car needs to be able to drive in the snow, which will usually boil down to the type of tires you use. Be sure to put your winter tires on well in advance and to check the tread is still at an appropriate level. Also, consider the necessity of driving on particularly snowy days. There may be alternatives like carpooling with your neighbor who has a 4×4, for example.
Climatizing Your Driving: Tips from Shenandoah Towing
Here at Shenandoah Towing, we know no amount of preparation can get us ready for the unexpected, and incidents can occur, even if you do your best in climatizing your driving. If you do get into an accident, regardless of whether it was caused by the weather, contact us at Shenandoah Towing! We will always be there to lend a helping hand, no matter the cause.