When you’ve got a vacation or trip planned well in advance, there’s not much you can do to change your itinerary around just because the weather might not be what you were expecting or hoping for. But when your travel includes road tripping, being on the road during inclement weather can be very dangerous if you’re not careful. So to help ensure that you’re able to enjoy your travels without having to spend hours and hours of extra time on the road or risk getting in a car accident, here are three tips for road tripping when the weather forecast doesn’t look good for you.
Make Sure You Can See Clearly
Before you hit the road for the day, whether you’re expecting bad weather or not, it’s always a good idea to make sure that you’re going to be able to see clearly when you’re driving. While lights can cause glare and make it hard to see in any type of weather, heavy rain, fog, or snow can make your vision even more impaired. So combat against this, Alex Deborgorski, a contributor to Real Simple, advises that you double-check your windshield wipers to ensure they’re in good working order and that you clean off your headlights before you leave for your day of driving. By doing these things preventatively, you’ll ensure that you’ll be able to see regardless of what weather you might run into.
Keep A Smart Speed For The Conditions
If you start to notice that the weather around you is getting bad, there are certain precautions you should take to decrease your chances of losing control while on the road. While advice for how to adjust your driving will vary based on the exact kind of conditions you’re in, DriversEducationUSA.com shares that it’s always a good idea to slow down when the weather changes from being ideal. By reducing your speed, you’ll be giving yourself more time to react if and when something on the road takes you by surprise.
Know When It’s Time To Get Off The Road
While some bad weather can be driven through, albeit slowly and safely, there may come a time when it’s just going to be safer for you to get off the road and wait it out. The trick here is knowing when you should make this judgment call and hunker down for a while. According to Anna Norris, a contributor to The Weather Channel, if there’s a warning of a tornado, you should find a safe building to take cover in until the worst of the storm has passed. Additionally, if conditions are such that you can’t see more than a few feet in front of your car, you should try to make your way off the road and park in a safe place until conditions improve.
If you’re heading out for a road trip but have noticed that the forecast isn’t looking favorable, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you keep yourself safe and reach your final destination.
