WHAT TO DO NEXT TIME YOU ARE CAUGHT DRIVING IN A HAILSTORM ?
Bushfires, floods and landslides caused by erratic unpredictable weather are no strangers to Australia and us Australians. Seeing a varied myriad of weather phenomenon on the same day or week is not an uncommon sight in this country, as evidenced by the recent intense hailstorms during months of supposed summer in Melbourne. Given us Australians’ heavy dependence on our cars for our daily commute, it is very useful to be better equipped, aware and prepared for driving and navigating safely in extreme weather conditions such as heavy rainfalls and storms. Here’s what to do next time you are caught driving in the hailstorm :
Stay informed and plan ahead : Thanks to the power of social media, accessing information and updates on a minute by minute basis is a real possibility in this day and age. Therefore, staying aware and keeping yourself informed well ahead of time on any changes to the weather and driving routes / roads can help you plan an alternative commute route, time and options to minimise chaos and potential hazards.
Change the way you drive normally : Your speed of driving should be lower than the set limit in any given area due to the change in weather conditions so that you can have better control of your vehicle and keep yourself and others on the road safe. Having a greater distance between surrounding vehicles around you will also be a helpful strategy. Making full use of vehicle features designed for better safety and visibility such as windscreen wipers, demisters, high beam headlights and daytime running should be priority as there cannot be any compromise on visibility and therefore safety in this instance. Avoid suddenly braking, speeding, changing lanes, blocking intersections and lanes and using rear fog lights to ensure visibility and safety of everyone on the road. It is also not advisable to drive through gutters, underpasses, dips, large puddles, debris and areas with deep water.
If you’re stuck, think on your feet : Despite doing everything right, it is inevitable that you may find yourself caught driving in the middle of a major storm or heavy rain. In the event of that occurrence, the best thing to do would be to not attempt driving away from or towards from the source of destruction. Pulling over and switching on hazard lights to attract attention for help or evacuating into a nearby building for safety whilst leaving your car behind are far wiser and safer options.
If the windscreen of your vehicle has been damaged due to heavy rains or a storm and needs repair or replacement, contact Novus Auto Glass to obtain a quote for repairs.
