Stay Safe While Driving in Bad Weather

Driving Safely Through a Disaster
Adapted from www.SmartMotorist.com

Driving in bad weather can become a problem anywhere.  And, when bad weather strikes, pet sitters don’t have the option of staying at home and watching the rain—or snow—or sleet—or hail.  They’re expected to be out on their rounds seeing to their assignments, no matter what the weather. 

Before you go - A little bit of maintenance goes a long way in preparing for bad weather.  A wise motorist will regularly check lights (head, tail and brake) and turn signals, as well as replace old or brittle windshield wipers and monitor tires before it starts to rain.

Turn on your lights - Whenever visibility is poor or it rains, headlights not only help you see the road, but they help other drivers see you.  Most states require headlights to be turned on when it is raining or when visibility is reduced to less than 500 feet. Turn your headlights on in rain, fog, or gloomy, overcast conditions.  If your car has daytime running lights, put them on so vehicles behind you can see you better.

Turn on your wipers - Replace your wipers regularly, at least once a year, and don’t be afraid to use washer fluid liberally, especially during the winter.  Wiper blades in bad condition don't clear water from the windshield very well and will often clear light rain from the windscreen with a few sweeps, then run on an almost-dry screen and leave smears of drying dirt which will distort your view.  At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot.  Never drive beyond the limits of visibility!

Heavy rain - Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades, allowing an almost continuous sheet of water to flow over the screen. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected spots.  If the roadside is your only option, however, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guard rail, and wait a few minutes until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on, and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers.  If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.

Foggy windows - Rain or high humidity can quickly cause windows to mist up inside the car.  In addition to turning up the air conditioning or defroster, you may need to open your side windows to get the air moving.  Should that fail, any cloth or paper product will work as well.  Drivers should make a habit of cleaning all windows regularly, inside and out.  Smokers need to take extra care to make sure their interior windows are clear of smoke residue.

Danger ahead - Rain is most dangerous when it falls after a long, dry spell, and roads have become polished and smooth.  The rain blends with oil and rubber-dust deposits on the surface to form a highly dangerous skid mixture that takes a while to get washed off the road.

• Pay particular attention to intersections where frequent starting and stopping cause more oil and dirt to build up. 
• Avoid lane changes, as water tends to build up between the tire ruts in the lanes.   If possible, drive in the tracks of the vehicle up ahead, and stay toward the middle lanes where water doesn’t pool as much.  The built-in slope of the road causes water to drain toward the outer lanes.
• Watch the road ahead for standing or running water.  Spray being kicked up by the vehicles in front of you, especially that created by the large tires of buses and trucks, significantly reduces your vision. Take extra care when passing another vehicle. If you must pass, do so quickly and safely.
• Maintain a safe following distance.  The 3-Second Rule needs to be extended in wet weather, particularly on the expressway.
• Avoid braking.  If possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
• Avoid off-road driving.  It's hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck, even in an SUV.
• Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it; your car could be swept off the road.

How are your tires? -  When water on the roadway accumulates in front of your vehicle's tires faster than the weight of your vehicle can push it out of the way, the pressure created can cause your car to rise up and slide on top of a thin layer of water between your tires and the road. In less than a second, your car can completely lose contact with the road, putting you in immediate danger of sliding out of your lane.

Hydroplaning (called aquaplaning in Europe and Asia), usually occurs at speeds over 40 miles per hour and its severity increases with speed, depth of water, and decreased tire-tread depth.  The point at which your vehicle becomes waterborne is also affected by tire size and pressure, tread pattern, vehicle weight and drive-train, and both road and water composition.  As would be expected, heavier vehicles and wider tires with deeper treads are the safest.  Due to their computer-assisted differentials, all-wheel-drive vehicles are more likely to hydroplane than two wheel drive vehicles in certain situations, and non-grooved asphalt is considerably more hydroplane-prone than ribbed or grooved concrete surfaces.  Have your tires checked regularly, keep them pressurized to manufacturer’s guidelines, and replace as necessary.  Be alert as to what type of surface you’re driving on and whether or not the water’s consistency may be altered by oil or dirt.  Slow down in wet weather! 

What to do if you start to hydroplane - It is often hard to tell when you are hydroplaning.  The rear end of your vehicle may feel loose, giving you the sensation that it has moved to one side or the other, especially in a high crosswind. The steering may also suddenly feel loose or a little too easy. 

If you find yourself hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a skid.  Hold the wheel firmly and don't steer in any other direction but straight ahead.  Ease your foot off the gas until the car slows and your steering returns to normal.  If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions (called feathering), or if your car has anti-lock brakes, brake normally. 

Handling a skid - Losing control of your car on wet pavement is a frightening experience. You can prevent skids by braking before entering curves, and by driving slowly and carefully, with a light touch, especially on curves.  If you find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. This procedure, known as "steering into the skid," will bring the back end of your car in line with the front. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you "steer into the skid."

Driving Through Water – Where water has flooded onto the road, drive very slowly and cautiously.  Be on guard for places where floodwater collects, particularly low-lying roads adjacent to streams, and dips under rail or highway bridges. You'll need good observational skills, especially at night, to notice the difference between a wet road surface and flood water.  If the contours of fences, trees, hedges and buildings at the side of the road ahead appear to be unnaturally low, slow down at once as the road is probably flooded.  Stop your car before entering the flooded area and check the water level ahead. Generally, if the water is deeper than the bottom of your doors or the bottom third of your wheels, it is inadvisable to attempt driving through it. Seek a detour rather than braving the flood and risking damage to your electronic control systems.  If you can’t see the ground beneath it, never drive through moving water!

Should you determine it's safe to go on, proceed slowly and avoid making large waves in the water.  If you have a manual transmission, engage first gear and keep the engine running fast by releasing the clutch just enough to partially engage first.  Then accelerate more than usual. Those with an automatic transmission should also place the car in first gear and feather the brake to slow the vehicle while at the same time keeping the RPMs up. These techniques keep the exhaust gases moving and help to prevent water from entering the vehicle’s tailpipe; however, using them for longer than a few seconds can seriously damage your vehicle and is not recommended.

What to do if you stall in deep water - It may be possible to drive a manual transmission car out using the starter motor. You can make the job easier by removing your spark-plugs, however, take great care not to let water enter the cylinders, as it will hydro-lock your engine and ruin it.  This is a last resort for rescuing a flooded vehicle and is not recommended.  If possible, have someone pull your vehicle out using a tow rope or cable winch.

Check your brakes - If you successfully pass through a deep water hazard, test your brakes. They may be saturated and require slow driving while light braking in order to generate enough heat to dry them out. Be sure they are pulling evenly on all wheels before building up speed again.

Stormy weather results in difficult driving conditions.  The challenges of seeing and being seen put extra pressure on the driver, and the unusual environment stresses the complex mechanisms of the vehicle.  And the challenge of professional pet sitters to safely complete their scheduled assignments can add to that pressure.

 

Remember – no job is worth your life.  Should Fido have to relieve himself on the linoleum floor because all the roads are closed, or if Fluffy has to do without her Fancy Feast for 24 hours, they will survive.  That’s also why it’s a good idea to ask clients for the closest trustworthy neighbor’s number when you contract a job.  It is also important to have a Disaster Plan in place and make sure each of your clients has a copy of that plan.  There is a sample plan posted on the PSI Web site at www.petsit.com→Members→Bulletins, and a detailed chapter on Disaster Planning is included in PSI’s Accreditation Program.

To find a professional pet sitter in your area, visit the PSI Locator.

 © Copyright 2007 by Pet Sitters International. All rights reserved. For reprint permission for this article, contact EllenPrice@petsit.com.