Bad weather can be a nightmare to navigate. You may not be able to see through heavy rain and fog. Other drivers may not recognize the safest way to drive in terrible weather. Unfortunately, this can lead to catastrophic collisions.

If you must drive through the terrible weather, you must operate your vehicle safely. Our team at Goldstein Hayes & Lina, LLC has put together some safe driving tips to help you in these challenging driving situations.

Driver Slower than the Speed Limit

The speed limit is an excellent baseline to keep people safe, but it considers perfect weather conditions. When it is raining or snowing out, the rules change. You should drive safe for the present conditions, which often means driving slower than the suggested speed limit.

Driving too fast in bad weather gives you very little time to stop if you suddenly encounter traffic. Your tires and brakes don’t have the same traction when the roads are wet and slippery. You can collide with the car in front of you and suffer severe injuries.

Give Yourself Clear Visibility

Heavy fog and a downpour will make it challenging to see in front of you. To combat this, you should ensure you have new windshield wipers and working fog lights. Keep a reasonable distance from the vehicle in front of you.

If you cannot see in front of you, consider changing your route or waiting before you continue driving. Give the weather some time to improve, so you don’t put yourself or others at risk of harm.

Check Your Tires Before You Leave

The tread on your tires is a vital aspect of your safety. Tread is what creates traction with the ground and allows you to control your vehicle better. When your tires have worn tread, they become slippery. Factor in the water from a downpour, and you have a recipe for disaster.

The best thing you can do is change your tires before the rainy season. Because we’re past that point already, you want to ensure you’re monitoring the tread carefully before you travel.