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