While being in your car is actually one of the safer places to wait out a storm (excluding walled and roofed houses), lightning poses more dangers than just electrocution. Whether or not car insurance covers the damage to your car depends on your insurance company and what insurance packages you have. For example, if you're driving through a thunderstorm in Southern California, it's highly unlikely that you're going to encounter hail or a tornado. Safe rooms are specially-designed reinforced tornado shelters built into homes, schools and other buildings. Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. Flashlights, battery-powered radio, and spare batteries. Avoid driving in a thunderstorm The safest way to drive in a thunderstorm is to, in fact, not drive at all. Tags: Dangers of driving in a thunderstorm, driving in a thunderstorm, driving in a tornado, driving in bad weathers, driving through a thunderstorm, driving through a tornado, how to drive in a thunderstorm, how to drive in a tornado, how to drive in sever weather, How to Drive through a Tornado, How to driver as safe as possible in a thunderstorm., Safety tips for driving in a thunderstorm, Home | Driving in Severe Weather Every day when getting behind the wheel, we take precautions to stay safe – buckle our seat belts, use turn signals, obey traffic signals. No one can dispute the beauty of a thunderstorm, but the fact is, driving in one can be hazardous. There are 40 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. From these weather-related accidents, there are nearly 6,000 fatalities. To avoid this situation when driving, do not drive through water that's more than 9.8 inches (25 cm) deep, try to avoid roads that you know have dips, and drive. However, if it isn't possible to escape through a door or window, call emergency services or yell to someone nearby for help. You may also have nervous drivers or just more drivers due to congestion. Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. Again, this should go without saying. In the US and Canada, it's legally required to use your headlights when driving with reduced visibility. Avoid unprotected gazebos, rain or picnic shelters, golf carts, baseball dugouts and bleachers. Driving during severe weather of any kind becomes more deadly than it already is. Driving Instructor. Safety tips for driving in a thunderstorm. Don't multitask while driving. If you get stuck in your car or end up in an emergency situation, it will help to be able to call emergency services and/or an emergency contact to alert them to the situation. 4 December 2019. Copyright © 2021, American Safety Council. Driving tips: Stay inside your vehicle for protection and avoid any contact with metal-conducting items. The safest thing to do in a thunderstorm or severe weather is to find somewhere to safely take shelter and wait out the storm. Do this as time and safety permits. 1-800-393-1063 Driving has its risks on a clear day, but what about when the weather turns sour? How to driver as safe as possible in a thunderstorm. If you're driving with other passengers in the car (especially children), make sure they wear seatbelts, too. If there are buildings around, enter one and go to its lowest level without windows. Hail this size can damage property such as plants, roofs and vehicles. Check out this article How To Survive A Flash Flood In Your Car. There are more than 6 million car accidents a year in the United States. Reviews | Keep both hands on the wheel and be ready to slow down at any given moment. Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. His mission is to ensure the safety of everyday drivers and continue to make New York a safer and efficient driving environment. Ensure you have insurance paperwork and your license with you, as well as emergency equipment for your car (e.g. It can also start fires and knock down power lines. Because tunnels lack four walls and bridges have no walls, these structures do not protect you from a tornado’s winds. A raft of heavy rain and thunderstorms are set to sweep the country on Saturday, hitting the North Island from midday. However, do not stay under a bridge or overpass. If there are no suitable buildings nearby, pull over (but do. Slow down. Don't park under trees or power lines (as the hail may knock them down) or in ditches (as water may fill the ditch). You should always drive at or even below the speed limit when it’s raining, especially on … However, only get out of your car to help the people involved if doing so won't endanger anyone. This is probably less intimidating if you are a local and have a house you can get back to with a basement, or you’re aware of the area’s storm shelters. Severe weather can strike at any time, so it’s important to think ahead and be prepared for whatever Mother Nature may bring. Driving in severe weather conditions can significantly increase the potential for a dangerous situation. Keeping yourself and your passengers safe, as well as driving safely for the benefit of other drivers, should be your priority when driving in severe weather conditions. The truth is, it’s both. Instincts often lead us astray here, and it’s important to know what you should do and what you shouldn’t do if you are driving when a tornado strikes. This, perhaps, is the great threat of all. Again, the best tactic is to avoid driving in these conditions, but if you find that an unfeasible option, please drive safe and follow as many safety precautions as possible. Standing bodies of water may occur on the road during a thunderstorm. Severe thunderstorms are officially defined as storms that are capable of producing hail that is an inch or larger or wind gusts over 58 mph. It’s tempting to floor it when you see a funnel cloud tunneling down from a dark sky. A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Canterbury Plains and North Otago, with heavy rain and hail likely to batter the regions. Live Chat You should also be aware of local laws regarding hazard lights; in Florida and many other states, it is illegal to drive with hazards in the rain. Inexperienced drivers should generally not drive in severe weather; if you're a new driver, either wait out the storm or get a more experienced person to make the drive. Be aware that water can end up entering your car's engine, fuel line, or exhaust pipe, especially if it's deep. Due to the rain, your car will have very low traction during a thunderstorm. The tornado may drop objects on your car, which could end up crushing you, or it could blow your car off you, removing your shelter. Should your car's windows fog up due to the rain, turn on your defroster or AC to clear them. It's possible your car may stop working. Ideally a rest stop or gas station, but if you do have to pull over on the side of the road, make sure you’re well cleared off the driving lane and … Louisiana State Police offer information, driving tips prior to expected severe weather Top Stories. This is especially important if there are strong winds, as cars can be blown around and certain vehicles (e.g. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. % of people told us that this article helped them. Of course, all of this changes if you’re not marching through a thunderstorm but towards a tornado. The safest way to drive in a thunderstorm is to, in fact, not drive at all. In vehicles, avoid driving through severe thunderstorms. This may seem like the logical choice, but it’s a deadly mistake. While there is no safe way to drive through thunderstorm or during a tornado, here is some advice to help you stay as safe as possible. References. This is because the blinking lights can be a distraction to already dangerous driving and can make it harder to see turn signals or brake lights. If no such shelter is available, find the lowest point on the ground and lie down, covering your head with your hands. A sturdy building is the safest place to be during a severe thunderstorm. If you don't have a choice in driving during a storm, find a weather station on the radio so you can keep track of the conditions while driving. Driving rain swept through Palmerston in Australia’s Northern Territory amid a severe thunderstorm warning on November 28.The Bureau of Meteorology warned of a severe thunderstorm that could bring damaging winds on Saturday. Because next thing you know, you’ll be in the eye of a severe thunderstorm and a tornado watch. Keep in mind the typical weather conditions for the area. This article was co-authored by Simon Miyerov. Do not lean against the door of your car. If lightning strikes close to you, especially at night, you can suffer from temporary blindness–which is really bad if you’re driving in already dangerous conditions. The problem is, you’re driving, and you’re not all that sure whether this is a beautiful phenomenon or something that you should worry about. Waiting it out is not always possible and the majority of drivers are more inclined to rough it out instead. Pull over under a sturdy location if possible. While driving in a thunderstorm, you may still encounter impatient drivers who tailgate, pass, or speed during the storm. Keep your radio on to monitor severe thunderstorm warnings in your area. The short answer is that you shouldn’t, but it’s not always possible to avoid it. Try to avoid places with trees or other objects that might get picked up by the tornado. However, this is a not a wise choice. But these extra precautions for specific kinds of weather can help you get to your destination safely. A typical storm will last around 30 minutes. Winter storms, bad weather and sloppy road conditions are a factor in nearly half a million crashes and more than 2,000 road deaths every winter, according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Drivers should know the safety rules for dealing with winter road emergencies. According to the DOT, 1.25 million of those accidents are caused by inclement weather. Thunderstorms and heavy rainstorms can quickly reduce visibility and increase the risk of you losing control of your vehicle. Your car can be swept away. This means it will take longer to brake and reduce your overall control over the car. Bridges have a higher chance of collapsing during a thunderstorm, so wait for it to pass before crossing one. What Are The Driving Dangers Of Thunderstorms? by: Nancy Cook. This article has been viewed 16,693 times. These simple tips can help you stay safe on the road when severe weather hits: Tornadoes: Avoid trying to outrun the storm. Refund Policy. The longer it's been since it's last rained, the more slippery the roads will be, as the oils on the road will have accumulated and won't have had a chance to be washed off yet. Severe thunderstorms can occur year-round and at any hour. These can collapse during or after severe weather. In the US, you can be ticketed for driving at the speed limit during heavy weather conditions. Just as how driving during heavy rain isn't optimal, driving during a thunderstorm is not encouraged, but sometimes you don't have another option. We know ads can be annoying, but they’re what allow us to make all of wikiHow available for free. Credit: Steve Pegg via Storyful Tree branches and other various items can get tossed into your car or its path while driving during a thunderstorm. Bring in pets. Careers | Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Can Google’s Flow Platform Help Decongest City Traffic? driving with family or with a pet). Driving in thunderstorms is not recommended, as heavy rain causes reduced visibility in addition to slippery roads (and therefore, heightened potential for a car accident). You could be driving away from a tornado when it’s suddenly charges down your path. By using our site, you agree to our. 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