Driving in extreme weather can be a challenge and is best avoided if possible, as any car accident lawyer will attest. But there are some seasonal changes that it is impossible to avoid. The best place to start when driving in adverse weather is to invest in a good quality tire.

Having a good quality tire puts your mind at ease when it comes to tricky weather situations. But for extra peace of mind, we’ve got some top tips for driving in difficult weather.

Driving in rain 

The first thing you should do is check whether or not you can delay your journey until the rain has subsided. It’s always better not to travel in heavy rain if it’s not necessary to do so.

But if you do end up being stuck in the rain, or have to get moving, there are some precautions you can take to ensure your safety. The main one is to make sure your windscreen wipers are working.

Be aware of big vehicles coming from the other direction as they can cause an uplift in water over your vehicle. Your wipers will get rid of this with relative ease but there could be a sudden drop in visibility momentarily.

Another thing to do is make sure that you’re all topped up with fuel. Having your windscreen wipers, lights and heat on can take a toll on your fuel consumption and you don’t want to be caught short.

Your next important check to make is your tread depth. Having enough tread is going to ensure you have enough grip on the road and can brake quickly. It also helps you have a more comfortable and relaxed drive in the rain as well performing tires have exceptional handling that increases safety.

As you’re driving, it’s important to leave more space between you and the car in front. Your braking distance is longer in the rain so leaving enough space can minimize the risk of an accident.

Driving in snow 

Driving in snowy conditions is similar to driving in heavy rain as many of the same rules apply. You should try and avoid driving while it’s snowing as visibility can be impaired, however it’s not typically as bad as driving in heavy rain.

The main thing to do is to take your journey very slowly with snow on the ground. You need to leave with a lot more time, so you don’t have to rush. Snow is relatively safe to drive on, but ice can be very dangerous.

The best way to avoid any incidents when driving in snow is to buy snow tires – but this is only useful if you live somewhere with a high risk of ongoing snow.

It’s always beneficial to keep some de-icer in the car so you can get on the road again as quickly as possible. You can clear the inside of your windscreen by starting off directing cold air at the windscreen and then slowly increasing the temperature to a warmer temperature.

Tread depth is equally vital when driving in the snow as you need as much grip as possible to brake effectively.

Driving in hot weather 

We don’t usually think of driving in hot weather as being much of an issue, but it can catch us short. If the weather is hot, the tarmac we drive on isn’t as rigid and therefore doesn’t have the same support for our tires.

The grip of our tires on the tarmac is also lessened as the rubber on the tires gets warm and more malleable. We also tend to keep our air conditioning running high which can impact fuel usage. People typically have slower reaction times in hot weather as well as it impacts our concentration.

Therefore, we have to be more cautious when driving in hot weather. Make sure you’re leaving more room between you and the car in front so that you have ample time to brake if necessary.

Drink plenty of water whilst in the car to ensure you stay hydrated and alert and take breaks often.

Driving in adverse weather shouldn’t be an issue as long as you’re prepared beforehand. Stay safe out there!