Driving in storms: some tips for doing it safely

Winter has arrived and although in Spain we almost always enjoy excellent weather, we also come across moments of rain and storms. And at that moment when visibility is low, road conditions become difficult and you have to be prepared to drive safely and avoid risks. For this reason, we are going to give you some tips for driving safely during the winter.

Give the car a thorough check

The arrival of winter is an excuse to carry out a thorough service of the car. It is worth visiting the workshop so that they can check that the brakes, the tyres and the main components of the car are in good condition and can function properly while driving. In addition, checking the levels of the brake fluid, power steering fluid and oil can be essential to avoid nasty surprises on winter journeys.

Keep these things ready

When winter arrives, there are several things you should have ready to improve safety during a storm. For example, make sure you have a reflective vest and warning triangles to signal a stranded vehicle at the side of the road. It is also important to have your phone battery fully charged, the fuel tank with enough petrol to cope with several hours stranded, and some water and even food. A blanket to protect yourself from the cold or warm clothing is also useful, because we cannot know whether we may have to stay stopped on the road because of a storm.

Clean and prepared car

Keeping the car clean is essential to ensure safety during winter. The most important thing is to be able to see and to be seen. Keeping the front windscreen clean, as well as the rear one, is important. We must also check that the headlights are clean and give off enough light to drive without risk.

Suitable lights for driving in a storm

When a storm occurs, you must make sure the vehicle is perfectly visible. In addition, the light must be sufficient for the driver to see properly. In the event of a storm you must take this into account and drive with the necessary lights. In this case, it would be advisable to drive with dipped headlights and fog lights if the car is equipped with them. In this way you can drive without causing visibility problems for other cars and ensure that yours is visible.

Driving responsibly

Driving responsibly is another thing we can do to ensure safety during a journey when a storm catches us by surprise. Non-aggressive driving, avoiding pressing the accelerator, adapting your speed to the characteristics of the road and also avoiding sudden braking, reduces the risk of accidents, even minor rear-end collisions. If you need to drive with chains, have them ready so you don’t get stuck. The use of winter tyres if you live in an area where ice, rain and snow make their appearance.

With these tips we want to help you drive safely during a storm and also throughout the winter. But there is another thing to keep in mind: check the weather forecast. If there is a risk of a storm or bad weather, it is best not to take the car unless it is necessary or essential.