How to Drive Safely in a Storm
FixMyCar offers advice about how to stay safe when driving in a storm.
Book a car repair nowEllie Dyer-Brown
Wednesday February 07 2024
4 min read
Stormy weather provides less-than-ideal driving conditions, impacting your visibility and control. Sometimes, it isn't possible to delay a journey, but if you can, you should. It's much safer to wait until the storm blows over.
However, if driving during a storm is unavoidable, we've compiled our best advice to keep you safe.
1. Check your wipers and screenwash
Needless to say, you'll be relying on your windscreen wipers during a storm. Take the time to check their condition before you set off. Inspect the blades, then switch them on to give them a test run. They need replacing if they don't clear water from your windscreen efficiently.
This guide explains how to clean & change windscreen wipers.
Similarly, it's important to have enough screenwash in the reservoir. You might not think you'll need it if it's raining heavily, but dirt and debris could get blown onto the windscreen, and there's no guarantee the rain will stay heavy enough to wash it off. Try to be prepared for every eventuality.
Find out how to top up screenwash here.
2. Make sure your phone is fully charged
The last thing you want is to be stranded by the side of a road without a way to call for help if your car breaks down. Or imagine you got stuck somewhere due to the weather, and nobody knew where you were. That's why you should make sure your phone is sufficiently charged before you set off and keep your charger with you.
3. Switch your headlights on
Regardless of the time of day, use your dipped headlights when driving in stormy conditions. Visibility is often reduced due to excessive cloud cover and rain, so ensuring maximum visibility is essential.
4. Stay in your vehicle during lightning
Cars have a metal frame, which means the lightning’s current can travel through the metal work and back into the ground without harming the passengers. Keep your windows up and stay inside the vehicle until the lightning passes.
5. Think about stopping distances
The rain makes your stopping distance longer, so you should give yourself more time to come to a halt. Braking sooner and slower will decrease any chances of your vehicle aquaplaning.
This guide explains everything you need to know about stopping distances.
In general, it's a good idea to drive more gently than usual - avoid braking or turning harshly and stick to a reasonable speed. Stay well back from the vehicle in front, especially in traffic. It's better to be cautious than to be injured in a road accident.
6. Avoid puddles
If possible and safe, drive around any deep puddles or find another route. If you have to drive through one, approach it very slowly or you could end up aquaplaning.
7. If visibility is bad, pull off the road into a safe spot
Nothing will improve your visibility in a downpour of extreme rain; driving becomes much more dangerous. Your best bet is to safely head towards a covered area until the rain dies down. Don't park under tall objects such as trees; they can topple in windy conditions, and debris might damage your car. Put your hazard lights on if you're not stopped in a proper parking space.
Next time there's a storm on the way, why not make sure your car is ready for whatever the weather throws at it by booking a vehicle health check? It's a great way to find out the condition of your car and identify any problems before they become serious.
If you found this guide helpful, you might also like:
- Related topics:
- Car Ownership
- How To
Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Manager. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.