Driving in Bad Weather Conditions

Adverse and severe weather such as ice, snow, fog, low sun, heat, wind and rain all present different driving challenges. Around 11% of accidents are caused by bad weather but with the right knowledge and preparation you will be able to tackle driving in bad weather like a pro.

General Bad Weather Driving Advice

For extreme or very severe weather, it is best to wait for it to pass before attempting to drive. If you deem driving absolutely essential, then carefully plan your journey before leaving home. Stay updated on weather reports to understand the road conditions along your route.

Before setting off, conduct a thorough check of your vehicle to make sure it is ready to tackle adverse weather conditions. Inspect the lights, battery, fluid levels, wipers, tyres, and brakes to verify they are in proper working order.

Always drive with vigilance and care to give yourself enough time to respond to hazards, and always leave enough room between you and the vehicle in front. If possible, try to drive on main roads as these are less likely to be exposed to falling branches, debris or flooding that bad weather can cause.

Cold Weather (Ice and Snow)

After deciding to brave in severe icy or snowy weather is essential, you must make sure the following is true before setting off:

• You have cleared all snow and ice from all your windows and car roof
• Your mirrors are clear
• Your windows are thoroughly demisted
• You can see out of every window
• All your lights are clean and working effectively
• Your number plates are visible and legible

Now you are ready to go, driving in cold weather does require some adaptions. Try to only drive one main roads as these are more likely to have been gritted.

You must drive with care even if the roads have been treated and you must keep well back from the motorist in front in case they brake suddenly – a gap of around 10 car lengths is recommended in icy or snowy weather. This is because wet or slippery conditions caused by snow and ice reduce your tyres traction resulting in your car taking longer to reach a complete stop.

In addition to maintaining a greater distance from other vehicles, you must also drive at a reduced speed, using the highest gear possible, and accelerate and brake very gently. This approach gives you more time to identify potential hazards and respond calmly, particularly when encountering conditions like black ice. When you are accelerating you may need to use low revs and move off in second gear to avoid skidding. Sudden braking can cause your wheels to lock and, again, cause skidding.

Take extra care when navigating bends. Make sure to have reduced your speed before you have reached a corner as this will allow you to maintain better control and steer smoothly. Aim to separate braking and steering – brake first to adjust your speed before steering to drive around the corner. This technique will allow you to stay in control as much as possible.

This is also true for ascending or descending hills. If there is slow moving traffic crawling up a hill it may be best to wait before ascending so you don’t have to attempt a hill start with reduced traction. Also avoid changing gearing whilst climbing hills. When approaching a steep decline, select a low gear and again it may be best to wait for traffic to clear at the base before driving down a hill. Use engine braking to slow your descent, do not change gears and avoid using the footbrake unless you feel you must. Also do not dip the clutch when driving downhill as this will lose the braking effect of the engine and you will free wheel down, with no control over your vehicle.

Watch out for winter service vehicles like gritters and snowploughs. They have flashing amber lights and travel at low speeds. They throw salt or snow so stay back or it could affect your vehicle or path. Only overtake gritters and snowploughs if you must, doing so carefully and making sure the lane you want to use has been cleared.

If you feel yourself skidding, try to remain calm and don’t panic. Do not brake as this will cause your vehicle to spin out, and steer into the skid.

For further detail on driving in cold weather, please consult our guides on driving through snow and on ice.

Wet Weather (Fords, Floods and Heavy Rain)

When road surfaces are wet, stopping distances are least double what they are on dry roads due to your tyres having less grip. Always keep well back from the vehicles in font to give yourself more time to anticipate hazards and plan ahead.

If you feel your steering has become unresponsive then this means water is preventing the tyres from gripping the road so gently ease of your accelerator and gradually slow down.

If you need to overtake a cyclist or a horse rider, for example, then do so with extra care, going slowly and passing as widely as possible. You also need to drive slower than usual as rain and spray from other vehicles can make it difficult to see and to be seen. It is important you check your windscreen wipers are working effectively before driving in wet weather; if the blades seem worn out or they are not cleaning the windscreen evenly, then it is time for new ones. As a general rule, if you need to use your wipers, it is time to slow down.

If you come across a flooded road, turn around and choose another route. If there is lots of water on the road that is moving or is more than four inches deep then driving in it is not recommended – if you can’t walk in it, then do not attempt to drive. Driving through deep water can cause potential issues such as:

• Hydro locking which will render the car undrivable
• Engine damage caused by water getting inside it, this can lead to stalling
• Loss of control as your vehicle may lose contact with the ground
• High water levels may be concealing hazards such as deep potholes or missing manhole covers
• Water entering the car and causing damage to the electrical systems such as transmission, brakes, suspension and your exhaust. It only takes an eggcup full of water to get sucked into your engine to cause severe damage.

Although the water may seem shallow, it only takes 12 inches (30cm) of moving water to float your car and take you to deeper water from which you will need rescuing.

If you do pass through a road with a lot of water on it, then you will need to test your bakes and dry them out afterwards. This is because floodwater can enter your brakes and cause immediate issues which could mean it is harder to stop your car which poses a safety risk. You will need to dry out your brakes to restore their efficiency. To dry out your brakes, lightly tap on them and continue to do this until you can feel them biting normally again. If your brakes do not return to responding properly, you will need to pull over and contact your breakdown provider as stated in your policy documents.

Driving in wet weather can also lead to aquaplaning which is caused by a build-up of water between the road and the vehicle which causes a loss of traction and reduced control potentially leading to an accident. To avoid aquaplaning, try to plan your journey so you avoid uneven road surfaces or areas with large volumes of settled water.

For further details on driving in wet weather, please consult our driving through fords and floods guide.

Windy Weather

Driving in windy weather affects high-sided vehicles the most but particularly strong gusts can blow other vehicles off course. This is most likely to happen on long stretches of road that are exposed to strong crosswinds, or when you are passing underneath bridges or alongside gaps in hedges. If you can, avoid driving on high bridges as these are more likely to be windy due to nothing shielding the wind. Gaps between trees ad buildings are also places you are more likely to be exposed to side winds.

Your vehicle may also be affected by turbulence causing you to rock from side to side and can be created by larger vehicles driving past you. If the wind is pushing your car around, slow down as this will allow you to regain control of your vehicle. When driving, make sure there is enough room on either side of your vehicle so you can account for it being blown sideways.

Make sure you drive slowly as this will give you time to react to any sudden strong gusts of wind that may impair your control of the vehicle. It is important to also maintain a firm grip of your steering wheel to have as much control as possible and react quickly.

Strong winds can cause trees to topple or large branches to snap off and land in the middle of the road, so it is important to anticipate these hazards. Again, driving at a reduced speed will mean you won’t have to swerve or brake suddenly if you come across a fallen tree or branch. Similarly, you will have enough time to stop if you notice a tree or branch falling ahead of you. This is important as failing to stop could lead to anything from a flat tyre to serious structural damage to your car. Be aware of tree branches hanging precariously over roads as they could fall at any moment.

If you feel the winds are too strong to be driving in, pull over and wait until they have subsided before carrying on.

Driving in Reduced Visibility (Fog, Mist and Low Sun)

Before driving in fog or in low sun, make sure your windscreen is clear as you do not want anything else impairing your visibility. Clean it with a soft, dry cloth or by rinsing it with the wipers and screenwash. The glare from low sun will be heightened if there is dirt and debris on your windscreen.

When visibility drops below 100m, or roughly 20 car lengths, and you cannot see any further in front of you, then it is necessary to use your fog lights. Do not use your rear or front lights unless visibility is seriously reduced as they can dazzle other road users and conceal your brake lights – you must turn them off as soon as visibility improves.

Your fog lights are marked by the fog symbol: one vertical wavy line with three horizontal straight lines going it. If you are to drive in fog, make sure you know how to activate your front and rear fog lights.

If you find yourself entering a patch of thick fog, check your mirrors and then slow down. Make sure you are a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you as their rear lights can give you a false sense of security. Having a wider gap will give you more time to react to any sudden changes which can be hard to detect in fog. You must be prepared to stop within the distance you can see. If a vehicle is getting too close behind you, do not be tempted to suddenly accelerate.

If you are at a junction with reduced visibility try to listen for when it is safe to emerge. Once you have decided it’s safe, pull out with conviction and without hesitation as you do not want to be loitering in the path of approaching vehicles.

You can also use sounds to help you when driving, not just when pulling out of junctions. Turn off your radio and open your windows to hear for the sound of traffic or oncoming vehicles. This will give you some more time to react to hazards if you can anticipate them through sound and how other cars are reacting by the sounds they are making.

If visibility is severly reduced and you feel you cannot see at all then you must pull over to a safe place and stop. Wait for visibility to improve such as the fog clearing or the sun dipping below the horizon or out of your line of sight before continuing with your journey.

When driving in low sun make full use of your vehicle’s visors to block light from the sun and wear polarised sunglasses to help you see clearer and without glare.

Hot Weather

Before driving in hot weather there are a couple of things you definitely must check:

• Engine coolant levels: Engines are more likely to overheat when it is a significantly hot day. Wait for your engine to cool, then open the bonnet and check your coolant levels. Your coolant reservoir is typically a clear plastic tank with a hose attached to the radiator. Confirm the coolant is between the minimum and maximum lines, if it is below the minimum, add more coolant.
• Tyres: Under inflated tyres retain more heat compared to properly inflated tyres. If the tyre retains too much heat, it could blow. To check it is properly inflated, use a tyre pressure gauge. Remove the tyre valve cap and place the tyre gauge onto the valve stem, push until the hissing sound stops. Compare the number on your gauge to the number in your vehicle’s manual or the number on the inside of the driver side door. If necessary, inflate your tyre. Please note that in extreme heat upwards of 45°C you may need to invest in hot weather tyres.

When you are parking your car in hot weather, you may want to invest in a windscreen shade. This will allow you to keep the temperature inside your car stable. Lots of shades are foldable and can be kept in your car for easy access. Also try to park in shaded areas.

You will also want to keep your vehicle well-ventilated when driving in hot weather to avoid drowsiness. It is worth testing your air con is functioning properly before driving in hot weather. To do this, turn your air con on to the high and low settings to see if the airflow changes as it does when it is operating correctly. If you can’t feel any air coming out of the vents, then you likely have an issue with your blower motor and you will need to have your air con recharged at a garage. KwikFit offer a free air conditioning check if you a technician to confirm there is an issue.

You’ll also need to be aware that road surfaces could become soft, or if it rains after a long dry spell, they could become slippery. Such conditions will affect your steering and braking so steer and brake steadily.

If you are planning to drive in hot weather, make sure to have lots of water available.

Driving in the Dark

Before beginning a nighttime drive, you must make sure you are well rested as driving whilst tired results in impaired concentration, slower reaction times, poor judgement and increased risk of accident. Being well-rested will ensure you are fully alert and allow you to make well informed decisions.

When driving in the dark you need to be mindful about how you use your headlights. Only use your full beam when there is no oncoming traffic; use your dipped beam at all other times when driving in the dark. Dazzling another motorist could cause an accident and so can being dazzled, so avoid staring at bright oncoming headlights because this can be disorientating. If you feel dazzled, follow the white line marking the far left edge of the road.

You should also check your lights are working properly and clearly before heading out in the dark. Clean your lights as well as your windscreen, mirrors and windows to remove any debris, dirt or grease.

Driving slower will also aid you when driving in the dark as your reaction is reduced. Driving slower gives you more time to react to any hazards that could suddenly appear like animals, or poorly-dressed pedestrians or cyclists.

For further details on driving in the dark, please consult our driving in the dark guide.

Emergency Kit for Bad Weather Driving

Keeping a kit of essentials in your car in case you are stranded on the side of the road in severe weather conditions will come in very handy. It should include items such as:

• Ice scraper and de-icer
• Torch and spare batteries
• In-car phone charger as well as a portable charger
• Spare warm clothes and blankets
• Snacks and water
• Medication
• First aid kit
• Toys/tablets/games – things to keep children entertained

Final Thoughts

This guide to driving in bad weather encompasses all types of adverse conditions you might encounter to help you feel confident about driving in poor weather safely.

Remember to always stay informed about current and forecasted weather conditions and pay close attention to any weather warnings.

At Eversure, your safety is our priority. For added peace of mind, invest in our breakdown cover for reliable roadside assistance. With the right knowledge and comprehensive breakdown cover in your arsenal, you will be prepared to handle any journey, no matter the weather.