There is nothing much nicer than seeing the first few plants of spring pop up. It’s great to be able to experience warmer weather and to see the changes happening around the area. The one thing to remember is that your driving habits do need to adjust to the new weather conditions.
Winter might have been rough, but spring is no time to relax behind the wheel. Here are three tips for helping yourself stay out of crashes as you enjoy your drives in the spring months.
- Slow down when it rains
When it’s raining, the roads are more likely to be slick. It’s not just the water that creates a slick surface, though. Oil and debris that have built up mix with the rainfall and create extremely dangerous areas on the road. Hitting one of those oil slicks too quickly could lead to your vehicle leaving the roadway.
How can you avoid trouble? Slow down. Remember that you will have better visibility and control over your vehicle if you go at slower speeds.
- Watch out for potholes
Potholes tend to develop in the spring as the road warms up, cools and does so again. This causes the surface to break down, and potholes may develop. Potholes can cause wrecks when people swerve into other lanes or hit the hole and lose control of their vehicles. To be safe, slow down and watch out for these holes. If you see one, stop or maneuver around it when it’s safe to do so.
- Take care of your vehicle
Finally, remember to take care of your vehicle. Check the tires, windshield wipers, windshield wiper fluid, brakes and other aspects of the vehicle to be sure it’s ready for a drive.
If you do crash, know what to do next
Taking care of your vehicle, watching out for newly developed potholes, and slowing down if it rains will all help you stay safer behind the wheel. If you do get into a crash with another driver, remember to stay at the scene and call for help, so you can get medical attention as soon as possible.