As a frequent traveler, one of the things you need to be careful about (especially during the winter) is driving in bad weather. Inclement weather can sneak up on even the most seasoned adventurers, so it’s important to keep an eye on road conditions anytime you need to get out…whether it’s for a long-distance trek or just commuting to work. In this post, we’ll discuss some essential tips for driving in adverse conditions and explain how our cozy fully furnished short term rentals are just the escape you need from the outdoors.
Tips for Safe Driving
Photo by Hossein Soltanloo on Unsplash
How to Drive on Wet, Rainy Roads
- Slow down. Give yourself plenty of extra time to get around. If you’re rushed and stressed, your thinking skills will be compromised. At higher speeds, you’ll also have less time to react if you slide on the road. According to DefensiveDriving.com, you should slow your speed by one-third of the speed limit. If you have low visibility, though, you may want to go even slower.
- Give yourself extra room between other vehicles. You don’t know how long it will take you to stop your car at any stoplights or signs. In addition, the people in other vehicles may choose to drive more recklessly, so giving distance between them and you helps protect you from others. As part of this, always use your headlights when using wipers or during bad weather. This helps increase your visibility for other drivers.
- Make sure you have good windshield wipers and tires. Poor wiper blades can be dangerous in a downpour. You always want to be able to see clearly out your front windshield! Also, make sure your tires have adequate treads and are aired properly. The tire treads help to displace water and give you traction on the road.
- Speaking of traction, one of the scariest things to experience on a wet road is hydroplaning! When you lose control of your vehicle, don’t take sudden actions like braking hard. Instead, carefully steer the car in the right direction and calmly release the gas pedal.
How to Carefully Drive on Icy Roads
The same principles mentioned above also apply to ice on the roads. Slow speeds, headlights, and extra distance between vehicles are important. If you have the ability and know how to use a lower gear on your car, do so. It’s all about trying to give yourself the most possible control on the road in unpredictable situations.
- In addition, use your eyes to detect potential areas of “black ice” as you drive along. This ice is harder to spot since it blends in with the road, but is more common in areas like a bridge, overpass or a shaded roadway.
- Tap or pump your brakes instead of braking hard. Do you have ABS (anti-locking) brakes? Know the answer to this question.
- Explore your car manual so you know how to use the emergency lights on your car if you have an accident. This helps make other drivers aware of your presence so a pileup is less likely.
- In another post, we talked about creating a travel emergency preparedness kit. When you have some time, take a look at the article (https://shreveport-bossiercorporatehousing.com/travel-emergency-kit-travel-nurse-housing/) and consider getting some of these supplies to help prepare you for bad weather. It’s very helpful to have an emergency kit in your car as well.
- Check for any road closures before you leave. The 511LA.org website is one resource for this.
- Make sure your phone is charged and you have plenty of gasoline for your drive. You don’t want to stall or be stranded.
Please note that Shreveport Bossier Corporate Housing provides this information as a convenience to our current and potential tenants. We are not replacing the advice of medical experts or government safety officials. Please seek help from the proper agencies in an emergency or with any weather-related questions.
Warm and Cozy Fully Furnished Short Term Rentals? Sounds Perfect…
Of course, the overall best tip for staying safe is…if you don’t have to get out on a day with inclement weather, don’t! In the long run, you’ll be glad you stayed where you were and didn’t take any unnecessary risks. Our fully furnished short term rentals are perfect for working from home if you can. Each rental features an HP or Epson printer and desk area as well as Wi-Fi connectivity for your convenience.
In addition, our condos and houses for rent have washer and dryer units as well as a fully equipped kitchen area for baking cookies or making delicious soups. You’ll appreciate the full-sized fridge, stove, microwave and pots & pans that are ready and waiting for renters to use.
Talk to us about your extended stay needs! We love serving our corporate housing renters as well as individuals needing medical student rotation housing or off-base Barksdale AFB housing. Call our owner, Debi, at 318-548-6156 or send a message on our Contact form to ask about current availability. We look forward to hearing from you!
Sources: https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/driving-advice/wet-weather-driving-tips/, https://www.defensivedriving.com/blog/driving-in-wet-road-conditions/, https://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=31567, https://www.klfy.com/local/lafayette-parish/highway-safety-on-icy-roads/, https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd488148.pdf, https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/driving-advice/winter-driving-tips/
