driving severe thunderstorm

It can also start fires and knock down power lines. The safest thing to do in a thunderstorm or severe weather is to find somewhere to safely take shelter and wait out the storm. Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. A severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for the Canterbury Plains and North Otago, with heavy rain and hail likely to batter the regions. Keep in mind the typical weather conditions for the area. Severe thunderstorms can occur year-round and at any hour. Refund Policy. Severe weather can be both frightening and dangerous for travelers. AccuWeather's Severe Weather Map provides you with a bird's eye view of all of the areas around the globe experiencing any type of severe weather. Remember that visibility is low, and one of the best ways to be seen by other drivers is to have your car lights on. This seems fairly self-explanatory, but it can make the difference between whether or not you suffer should lightning be prevalent in the area, and being fully enclosed in the vehicle can also help drivers avoid distractions from rain or thunder. Do not lean against the door of your car. How to Drive Safely During a Thunderstorm, http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Severe-Weather-While-Driving---How-to-Stay-Safe, http://www.lightningsafety.com/nlsi_pls/vehicle_strike.html, https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/can-you-drive-safely-in-every-type-of-severe-weather, http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/headlight-use/, https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/5-tips-to-remember-for-driving-safely-in-the-rain, http://exchange.aaa.com/safety/driving-advice/wet-weather-driving-tips/#.Wff1K1xKtE4, https://www.travelers.com/resources/auto/safe-driving/driving-in-heavy-rain-and-wind.aspx, https://smartdriving.co.uk/Driving/Driving_emergencies/Floods.htm, https://autofile.ca/en-ca/auto-articles/driving-tips-what-to-do-if-the-road-is-flooded, https://www.progressive.com/vehicle-resources/flood-safety/, https://www.weather.gov/safety/tornado-during, http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/safety.html, https://www.progressive.com/vehicle-resources/hail-driving/, https://disastersafety.org/hail/know-the-difference-how-to-react-during-a-hailstorm-and-tornado/, https://www.erieinsurance.com/blog/drive-safely-hailstorm, https://www.osha.gov/OshDoc/data_General_Facts/downed_electrical_wires.pdf, https://www.geico.com/more/driving/auto/car-safety-insurance/what-to-do-if-you-witness-a-car-accident/, https://www.compare.com/auto-insurance/coverage/car-insurance-and-hurricane-damage, http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2003/10/31_rain.shtml, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. 4 December 2019. Contact Us. This article has been viewed 16,693 times. 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 … Expert Interview. Avoid driving into moving water. When winter comes, we face additional risk on the roads due to severe weather. Because tunnels lack four walls and bridges have no walls, these structures do not protect you from a tornado’s winds. Another very real possibility, hail not only makes a lot of noise, it can damage your car as well. Wind this strong is able to break off large branches, knock over trees or cause structural damage to trees. Safety tips for driving in a thunderstorm. 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). Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. The short answer is that you shouldn’t, but it’s not always possible to avoid it. A reinforced safe room (or above-ground tornado shelter) is as good as an underground shelter in most situations. Hydroplaning while in cruise control will cause your car to go faster than if you were driving the car manually. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f3\/Drive-Safely-During-a-Thunderstorm-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Drive-Safely-During-a-Thunderstorm-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f3\/Drive-Safely-During-a-Thunderstorm-Step-1.jpg\/aid9447762-v4-728px-Drive-Safely-During-a-Thunderstorm-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"