A guide to driving in a thunderstorm
 A guide to driving in the adverse weather conditions that come with a thunderstorm.
The arrival of a storm means that you will have to contend with rain, wind and lightening whilst driving but there are some things that you can do to make the experience easier.
Thunderstorms can be scary when driving, especially when you’re also trying to combat the wind and heavy rain.
Although you may start to panic if you are faced with the task of driving in a storm there is no need to be distressed, remaining calm is crucial and there are certain things that you can do to aid yourself when driving in such conditions.
Because of the heavy rain that generally comes with a thunderstorm, it is vital that you keep your distance from the car in front of you as your braking distance will be increased on the wet roads.
If visibility is poor it might be better for you to pull over to the side of the road with your hazard lights on to wait for the rain to subside, especially if you are not confident in driving in such adverse conditions. If you decide to do this make sure that you are away from trees and posts that could be affected by wind and lightening.
A positive thing about being in your car when a thunderstorm strikes is the fact that it is one of the safest places to be as your car is made from metal. This means that if lightning was to strike your car the electricity would be absorbed by the metal exterior body of the car keeping you safe inside it.
If you do decide to pull over for the duration of the storm, ensure that you stay inside the car as you may get struck by lightening if you are out in the open, especially if there are trees nearby.
As soon as the storm hits make sure you turn on your lights as visibility is always poorer and you need to make sure that you can see what’s ahead and so that other cars can see you, this will help in avoiding any accidents. If visibility is good enough to drive in, make sure that you keep your speed low and pay extra attention to the road ahead and cars around you.
Aquaplaning can occur when driving in a storm. This is when water builds up in front of your tyres faster than the weight of your car can move it out of the way, essentially you are driving on top of the water not the road so if you brake suddenly your car will skid. You need to reduce your speed until you can feel the road again, this will help you to avoid accidents during the storm.
Related posts:
- A guide to driving safely while on medication
- Your guide to safer night driving
- A guide to driving in high wind
- Your guide to a winter car kit
- Your guide to mobile phone use in your car
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