Bad Weather and Emergencies

Night, Curves and Visibility

Night driving: you see far less after dark, so drive at a speed that lets you stop within the glow of your headlights, usually 400 feet.

• The law requires headlights from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, and you should also use them in rain, snow, fog and smoke. The easiest habit is to leave them on all the time: headlights help you see and help others see you. Daytime running lights are dimmer and do not light your tail lights.
• Use high beams when no one is coming, but switch to low beams within 500 feet of an oncoming vehicle or within 300 feet when following another.
• Do not look into oncoming headlights; keep your eyes on your own lane ahead. If a driver blinds you with high beams, look toward the right edge of the road.
• Try to see beyond your headlight beams and watch for dark shapes on the road. Glance to the sides now and then to find the edge of the pavement.
• Do not wear sunglasses or tinted lenses at night or on overcast days.
• Increase your following distance at night and on unfamiliar roads.

Curves: slow down before the curve, hold a steady speed through it, and accelerate gently as you exit. Do not brake or accelerate hard in the curve; it upsets the car's balance. Steer smoothly, never jerk the wheel. Position the car toward the outside of the lane as you approach so you can see farther around. Uphill curves may need more throttle, downhill curves more braking. The faster you go, the more inertia and the more grip you need, so slow down much more for curves in rain or snow.

Fog: use low beams; high beams reflect back at you. Slow to a speed you can stop within the distance you can see, lengthen your following distance, and if necessary stop in a safe place until it lifts.

Slippery Roads, Skids and Hydroplaning

Rain, snow, ice and sleet all make roads slippery. On a slippery road you must slow for conditions, even far below the posted limit.

• The first few minutes of rain are the most slippery, especially on a hot day. Heat brings the oil in the asphalt to the surface, and the road stays slick until the rain washes it away.
• On snow, cut your speed dramatically and lengthen your following distance. Use chains when they are required, and consider studded tires in winter.
• Avoid icy roads when you can; if you must drive on ice, slow down and leave extra space all around.
• On cold, wet days shady spots, bridges and overpasses can be icy when the rest of the road is not.
• When temperatures rise from below freezing to near freezing, melting ice turns wet and gets even more slippery.
• Black ice is a thin coating you can barely see. Near or below freezing, stay alert even if you see no ice; many drivers crash when they lose control on black ice.

Skidding: a skid happens when the tires can no longer grip the road. Sudden steering or braking at high speed or on a slick surface is the usual cause. If you skid:

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Press or pump the brakes. With antilock brakes, press firmly; ABS controls wheel rotation to slow you and keeps you able to steer. Without ABS, stamping on the pedal makes the skid worse.
3. Steer in the direction the vehicle is moving.
4. Keep correcting until the tires regain traction and go where you are steering.
5. Once in control, adjust your driving to the conditions.

Hydroplaning: water builds up between the tires and the road, the tires lose traction and the car feels like it is floating. The best prevention is to slow down when the road is wet. If you hydroplane:

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.
2. Press the brakes gently. ABS helps the tires regain contact; without ABS, braking hard makes it worse.
3. Keep the steering wheel steady. Do not jerk or overcorrect.
4. Look where you want to go and calmly wait for the tires to grip.
5. Once in control, slow down.

Vehicle Failures

If your vehicle has trouble on the road:

• Get it off the road and away from traffic if you can.
• If you cannot, stop where other drivers can clearly see you, never just over a hill or around a curve.
• Turn on your hazard flashers and headlights.
• Place flares or reflective triangles 200 to 300 feet behind the vehicle. Without them, stand somewhere safe and wave traffic around.
• Raise the hood or tie a white cloth to the antenna, mirror or door handle to signal that you need help.

Blowout or sudden flat: grip the wheel firmly and keep the car straight; ease off the gas and let it slow by itself, do not brake, or brake only gently if you must; pull off in a safe place and turn on the flashers. If you cannot change the tire safely, stay in the car and call for help.

Engine dies: hold the wheel firmly; it will be hard to turn but it will turn. Look for an escape path, do not brake hard, brake with steady pressure, slow down and pull off. Try to restart; if that fails, raise the hood, turn on the flashers and call for help.

Headlights go out: turn on your hazards, turn signals or fog lights and pull off the road as soon as possible.

Stuck accelerator: keep your eyes on the road, shift quickly to neutral, pull off when safe, then turn off the engine.

Power lines: if a line touches your vehicle, do not get out. Turn off the engine, call 911 and stay inside until responders say it is safe; assume every line is live. If you drive over a line, stop at once; moving forward or back risks electrocution. If a fire forces you out, open the door, stand on the sill, and jump clear with your feet together and your arms at your sides without touching the car, then shuffle at least 35 feet away.

Emergency kit: first aid kit, flashlight, blanket, water, jumper cables, tools, a backup phone charger, spare tire and jack, reflective triangles or flares, and a paper list of family and insurance phone numbers.

Crashes and Reporting

Crashes usually have three causes: too much speed, too little space and not enough situational awareness. However careful you are, you may still be in one, so know what to do.

After a crash

• Do not drive away. If anyone is injured or killed, call 911; law enforcement must be notified. Hit and run costs you your license and brings criminal charges.
• Move the vehicle to the side of the road as soon as possible, but stay near the scene.
• Do not stand or walk in traffic lanes.
• Use flares or warning devices to alert other drivers.
• Turn off wrecked vehicles and do not smoke near them; fuel may have spilled.
• If you hit a parked car, try to find the owner. If you cannot, leave a note where they will see it with the date, time and your contact information.

Exchange information and report

• Exchange names, contact information, driver license numbers, insurance companies and policy numbers.
• Take photos or video of the damage.
• Give information to police or emergency officials when asked.
• If an officer does not file a report, state law requires you to file a collision report form within 4 days.

If someone is hurt

• Call 911. Stay calm, check yourself, then help others.
• Do not move injured people unless the vehicle is burning or they are in other immediate danger.
• Help anyone who is not walking and talking: check breathing, then bleeding. For bleeding, apply pressure, then a bandage, then a tourniquet if needed.
• Do not give injured people anything to drink, not even water.
• Cover them with a blanket or coat to keep them warm and prevent shock.

Calling 911: give your location with landmarks or mile markers, the number of vehicles, the damage and injuries; follow the dispatcher's instructions; have details ready such as vehicle types, plates and hazards; and stay on the line until help arrives.

Passing a crash scene: do not block responders, follow directions from police, firefighters and anyone directing traffic, and focus on your driving as you go by. Slowing down to look causes congestion and more crashes.