Spring Weather Driving Tips
AAMCO Utah • May 14, 2019
Drive Into Spring Prepared
You’re driving through one of those typical spring torrential downpours. It’s a sure sign that spring has arrived, but it also gives you pause. “Did I need to do something for my car this season?” As the rain continues to fall, you start thinking about your brakes (“They’re okay, right?”), your windshield wipers (“Were they always this bad at removing water?”), and that weird sound your engine was making back in December.
Spring brings harsh weather, and with it, a host of seasonal maintenance tasks to review. If you can’t remember your last brake inspection, it’s probably time for a new one. The last thing you want in a rainstorm is to lose your brakes! In addition to taking care of your vehicle, there are some basic inclement weather driving tips you’ll want to keep in mind.
Related Article: Get Your Car Ready for Spring & Summer [Video]
Spring Driving Conditions to Prepare For
Driving in Rain
- Pay Attention We’ve all zoned out while driving and snapped back while pulling into our driveway, sheepishly thinking, “huh, I don’t remember how I got here.” Slick roads from rains will require your full attention to continuously assess and adjust your driving. Keep cruise control off and your phone down to ensure you’re ready for whatever the road may throw at you.
- Keep your Distance Just like driving on ice, water can impact your ability to stop and maneuver precisely. Make sure you keep an added distance between yourself and other vehicles to buy time to react. You may be fine, but the vehicle next to you may be close to losing control!
- Slow Down Tires work by maintaining good contact with the roadway. Water disrupts this contact, and when combined with speed, you may end up hydroplaning above the road rather than driving on it. As little at 1/12th inch of water at 35MPH can result in new tires losing contact with the road.
- Use your Headlights They’re not just there to help you see the road! Headlights help other drivers to see you, and increased visibility during a storm is always a good thing. If a heavy fog rolls in or traffic abruptly stops, consider putting your hazard lights on to warn other motorists.
Driving in Wind
Driving in Hail
- Slow Down Hail is already traveling fast, so don’t add your vehicle speed to the mix! Keep your speeds low to minimize damage from hail, and to give yourself time to react to other drivers or obstacles. It’s generally a good idea to treat hail on the road as ice or water in terms of stopping and maneuvering.
- Get off the Road Safely If the hail is big enough to dent your car, it won’t matter if your stationary or driving. At that point, you should focus on finding shelter for yourself off the roadway. IF you pull onto the shoulder, make sure you’re as far from the lane of travel as possible, and even then, pay attention as other drivers may drive into you after losing control. The safest option is to exit the road or pull into a small side street with minimal traffic so you can ride out the storm safely.
- Overpasses are not Safe Shelter It may seem like an easy way to protect your car, but it causes a host of dangers that will spread beyond just your safety. Drivers may slide into you, or you stopping in the shoulder may inspire others to just stop on the roadway and completely block traffic (and first responders). Continue driving until you find a safe space to pull over.
Driving in All Seasons with AAMCO Utah
At the end of the day, the simplest and safest way to drive in bad weather is to slow down. But before the weather strikes, get ready by ensuring your vehicle is in the best shape possible – you should be focused on the road, not your brakes or tires, during a storm!
Whether you have specific concerns or just think you’re behind on maintenance, call or make an appointment at your local AAMCO Utah location today. We’re happy to take a look at your vehicle and perform a multi-point inspection , annual maintenance, or diagnostics.
If you are unsure of any of the above tasks, or have any questions about your car’s current condition, AAMCO Utah can help. Your local AAMCO Utah expert mechanics
can provide a free multi-point inspection
, recommendations for maintenance or repairs, and help ensure your vehicle is ready for whatever the year may bring.
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