Driving storm. This is what you need to know
Hot summer days often end in violent storms. Then the interior of the car is a fairly safe place, but driving in such weather conditions can be very dangerous.
Better wait out the lightning strikes
- An all-metal car is a fairly safe place to ride out a thunderstorm, although sometimes a vehicle can be damaged after a lightning strike. The failure manifests itself, among other things, in the vehicle's electrical and electronic systems. If possible, during a thunderstorm, the driver should drive to a safe location, stop the vehicle, turn on the hazard warning lights, and wait for the thunderstorm to subside. Do not touch any metal instruments during this time. The safest way is to put your hands on your knees and take your feet off the pedals, advises Zbigniew Veseli, director of Renault's safe driving school.
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Dangerous rain and puddles
Another storm hazard is heavy rain. This drastically reduces visibility for the driver and significantly increases the stopping distance. Therefore, if it is not possible to stop and wait out the downpour, slow down and increase the distance to the vehicle in front. You should also watch out for deep puddles. Driving into still water at too high a speed can cause aquaplaning—water drifting and loss of vehicle control. In some cases, flooding of the ignition system or other electrical components of the vehicle is also possible. Plus, it's so easy to damage your car, as puddles often hide deep holes.
– When entering a puddle, reduce speed as much as possible and take your foot off the brake, as the front shock absorbers sag during braking and do not perform their task. If a section of the road covered with water is damaged, the impact energy is transferred to the suspension and wheels of the car. It is also worth depressing the clutch to protect the gearbox and engine from impact energy - recommend the instructors of the Renault Driving School. If the road is flooded with water from a nearby river or body of water, it's definitely best to turn around and look for another route, as water can build up quickly.
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Beware of strong winds
Because of the strong wind, it is better not to stop and not drive up to the trees. Falling branches can damage the machine or block the road. For this reason, it is safer to drive on a highway or expressway during a storm than on a local road where there may be trees. Wind gusts can also knock the car off the track. Such danger exists especially on bridges and open sections of roads. During strong gusts, the driver should immediately adjust the wheel alignment slightly according to the direction of the wind to balance the wind. It is necessary to adapt the speed to the weather conditions and increase the distance from the vehicle in front to at least 3 seconds.
