DRIVING IN BAD WEATHER

Chapter 15

15-1 RAIN Makes road surfaces slippery Harder to see others and for others to

see you Roadway markings can disappear Hearing and seeing can be difficult

DRIVING IN RAIN Always use your low-beam headlights

to increase your visibility Watch for other vehicles that may not

have their lights on Use windshield defroster and rear

defogger to keep condensation off windows

Be on the lookout for pedestrians darting across the street to get out of the rain

Increase your space cushion in case you or drivers begin to skid

Signal earlier Drive in the tracks already made by

vehicles in front of you

DRIVING IN RAIN (CONT.) Reduce speed by 25% when driving on

straight roads and by 50% on curves Don’t make sudden moves with the steering

wheel Don’t apply brakes too hard on wet surfaces

Wet brakes stop more slowly than dry brakes Let car coast to reduce speed

If rainfall becomes too heavy, pull over to a safe area and wait for the rain to let up

HYDROPLANING Occurs when a thin sheet of water gets between the

road surface and a vehicle’s tires, causing them to lose contact with the road

Can start and speeds as slow as 30 mph and in water little more than 1/8 inch deep

As speed increases, so does the chance of hydroplaning Ability to slow, stop, or even steer is reduced

Any sudden jerk of the wheel or a gust of wind can send you in a uncontrolled skid

Take foot off the gas pedal and resist applying the brake Let the cars momentum ease down until you get grip

Make sure your tires are properly inflated with good tread

LOOK FOR CLUES Warning signs of standing water

Visible reflections“Dimples” created by raindrops hitting the

water“Slushing” sound from the tiresLoose feeling in your steering wheel

DEEP WATER DRIVING Avoid it

If water is running, do not try to cross Water as shallow as 18 inches can carry away

an average car If you can’t avoid it:

Make sure the water is low enough it does not reach the bottom of the car

You are risking getting water into the engine through the carburetor, air filter, or exhaust pipe

Can short out your electrical system Stay close to the center and not the

shoulder Use a lower gear

15-2 SNOW AND ICE Snow can limit your vision

Roadway markings covered by snow Traffic signals hard to see Cars that are not properly cleaned If the sun is shining, sunlight can reflect off snow and

ice causing a glare “Winterizing” your vehicle

Add deicing solvent to your windshield washer solution Tire chains Make sure your spare is good Have a flashlight, ice scraper, snow brush, ice pick,

snow shovel, gloves, road flares, jumper cables Have cell phone handy and carry extra clothes and

blankets

STARTING ON SNOW Clear your vehicle of snow Drive back and forth to make a path for

your vehicleUse a shovel if the snow is deep

Don’t spin your wheels

DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE Freezing and thawing occur constantly

during the winter months The greatest danger is when sleet turns

into a thick sheet of ice If it is raining or sleeting at the freezing

point, ice can form instantly Because air circulates below bridges

and overpasses, they tend to freeze before other parts of the roadway Roads can be completely dry and

overpasses can still have ice on them Sand and/or salt is laid down to melt the

ice on a roadway Not always effective

DRIVING ON SNOW AND ICE Stay in tracks created by other vehicles Reduce speed and increase following

distance Avoid hard braking or accelerating

Coasting is the best maneuver

PARKING ON SNOW OR ICE Avoid parking on snowy or icy roads

Especially if they are plowing the roadway If you have to park downhill, make sure

there is enough room for you to get out without backing up

Don’t set parking brakeCan freeze and leave you unable to move

your vehicle

15-3 OTHER SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS Fog

Most common early in the morning, late at night, at high altitudes, and near bodies of water

Some of the worst crashes have occurred in fog

Reduce your speed and increase your space cushion

Fog can give you false depth perceptionUse low beam headlights

High beams make visibility worsePull over if you have to

15-3 OTHER SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS Dust and Sand Storm

Common in deserts, agricultural areas, and sandy beach areas

Avoid driving in such conditions Drivers could rear end you and visibility could be

reduced to zero

Hail Usually occurs in spring or summer rains Pea-sized hail can reduce visibility and layer the

road with slippery pellets of ice Larger hail can crack windshields and dent car

bodies beyond repair Park your vehicle in a garage to keep it out of

harm

15-3 OTHER SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS Lightning Storms

Get indoors or stay in your vehicle Avoid using any electronic devices, such as the

radio or cellular phone Tornados and Hurricanes

If you are caught in a tornado while driving Pull over immediately and seek shelter under an

overpass or in a ditch Don’t try to chase a tornado

Hurricanes are accompanied by strong winds and heavy rain Try to park under a covered area, but stay away

from trees, telephone poles, or similar objects that can topple and crush your vehicle

15-4 COLD AND HOT WEATHER Extreme temperatures can create

special problems for vehicles Cold weather

Engines have to work harder in cold weather Mixture of air and fuel in your engine is affected

If there is not enough anti-freeze or the wrong kind, the radiator can freeze Blocks coolant from getting to the engine, which

can cause it to overheat

STARTING IN COLD WEATHER Cold weather puts added strain on your

engineBattery has less power, and oil,

transmission fluid, and other lubricants get thicker

Keep vehicle parked in a garage if possible

If you aren’t going to use your vehicle, it is a good idea to have someone start it up for you and let it run for a while

Engine block heater?

FROSTED WINDOWS Cold temperature causes windows to ice

up, reducing visibility Use an ice scraper and your defroster

once the engine is warm Moisture can build up inside the car,

causing windows to fog up even with the defroster onKeeping a window open can help aid thisSometimes, using your air conditioner can

work faster

HOT WEATHER Hot weather can put stress on your

vehicle just as much as the cold Heat causes liquids to evaporate

Make sure you check all your fluids regularly in this instance

Heat can shorten the life of a car’s battery and cause hoses and belts to crack and tear

VAPOR LOCK In very hot weather, gasoline can boil

and turn to vapor, causing your vehicle to “lock” or stop running

If this happens, shut the vehicle off and let it cool down

Once the fuel cools and condenses, you should be able to restart

Vehicles do not have this problem with the use of fuel pumps, which push the fuel to the engine

OVERHEATING Driving for long periods in hot weather, in

heavy traffic, up inclines, or using the air conditioner at full blast on a very hot day, can cause the engine to overheat

Pull over and let the vehicle cool Open the hood, windows, even turn on the heater

to draw heat away from the engine Water can also be used as a temporary

coolant if needed Make sure the engine has cooled enough or risk

cracking the engine block If it continues to overheat, don’t drive

Call a tow truck and have it looked at immediately