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Driving can be incredibly dangerous and particularly in hazardous conditions.

Everyone feels a bit nervous getting behind the wheel when there is ice, fog or heavy rain, but if you know how to drive safely in these conditions then you can feel a lot more confident whilst also minimising the chance of any kind of accident. Of course, prevention is ideal but if you do find yourself facing the consequences of a collision, seek advice from an experienced legal professional, such as the car accident lawyers at Cohen & Jaffe. Read on for a few tips on how to drive in different conditions.

Snow and/or Ice

The conditions that cause the most accidents are due to snow and/or ice on the roads. In these circumstances it is best to avoid driving if possible, but if not you should always drive about 10 miles per hour below the speed limit and more if the conditions are particularly bad. You should also avoid braking during a turn, avoid tailgating and carefully look out for black ice.

Fog

Driving in fog can be problematic as it can make it difficult to see the roads ahead of you and what is all around you. Drive with your fog lights on as these are yellow which cut through the fog and their low position can illuminate the road well. It is also intelligent to slow down before a hill as you will not be able to see cars ahead and you should also pump the brakes before entering a fog bank – this communicates to those behind you to back off. Carelessness, and not keeping your distance from other vehicles could lead to a potential collision, and you may have to consult with specialists in injury arising from an auto accident, if you end up in a situation that requires legal advice. You may have a claim due to someone else’s negligence on the road due to the thick fog and lack of hazard awareness. 

Rain

Rain can create hazardous conditions and can also interfere with the vehicle’s brakes. It is a good idea to slow down by 5 or 10 miles per hour to avoid hydroplane and avoid driving through flooded areas. If you go through a flooded area or large puddle, you can feather the brakes and take your foot off the gas to help dry the brakes from the heat and friction.

General Advice

If the conditions are making you nervous of if you think it is too dangerous to drive then you should avoid it at all costs. If you do drive, you should always extra careful and have an emergency kit with you at all times. It is also important to look after your automobile and when you lease a car from somewhere like Car4Leasing you can get a full breakdown of the car’s history to make sure that it is safe to drive.

Hazardous conditions can make driving incredibly dangerous and often you should avoid driving at all costs. Different conditions create different hazards so it is important to know how to drive in difficult conditions so that you can get behind the wheel with confidence whilst also reducing the chance of an accident. You must also carefully maintain your automobile to make sure that it is in good working order before venturing out.

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