SPRING DRIVING HAZARDS

 

Spring may be a month away, but our recent extreme weather in the Bay Area has created a unique situation where Winter and Spring driving hazards overlap dangerously this year.  The current predominant weather pattern includes bouts of heavy, freezing rain with significant overcast. During the rainstorms, puddles are everywhere, with some areas where the depth of the puddles can cause your vehicle to stall out.  Wet and freezing temperatures cause roadways to be slick and dangerous as evidenced by the huge increase in vehicle “spin-out” accidents over the last few weeks.

Hopefully, after going through the last months of Winter, you are aware of these types of hazards and take appropriate action. Don’t attempt to drive through puddles that are deeper than a couple of inches, or where you don’t know how deep the water is. When the temperature is near freezing, keep speeds down and avoid darker or frosty patches on the roadway.

However, the Bay Area weather trend also has intermittent periods of sunny days that change our attitude about the weather and create additional driving dangers. While we have cabin fever during the rainy periods, the dry days invite everyone to go out and enjoy the fresh air. This creates some additional problems for safe driving. 

While spring may not seem like it poses as much danger as winter, the present heavy rainfall patterns, combined with the warm sun, can make road conditions dangerous. This can lead to auto accidents if drivers are not aware of the additional hazards that await them on the road.

Bicyclists: People who cycle will be more likely to take advantage of these sunny days than they have during Winter. Your brain may be stuck in “Winter-mode” and you may not be expecting the increase of bicyclists on the road. On top of that, not all cyclists adhere to the rules of sharing the road so they may appear unexpectedly, or block roadway that should be available to your car. Regardless, your responsibility as a driver is to always provide adequate distance away from any bicycle riders and to slow when approaching them. So when the sun is out, take a minute to be aware of the possibility of more cyclists on the road. If you are a cyclist yourself, follow the rules of riding single-file as close to the right edge of the road as possible. Wear bright and/or reflective clothing and be aware of all motor vehicles around you.

Children playing in the streets: Children in the city are prone to cabin-fever as well, and the first sunny days may result in a huge increase in kids playing near or in the streets. The fact that children are small makes it even harder to see them when they enter the roadway. Please be exceptionally careful around areas where children can be. Realize they may come out of nowhere and into the path of your vehicle. 

Sun glare: It’s been raining. You don’t have any need for sunglasses while driving. Or so you think.  During late February through early April, the sun is at a level that provides extreme glare just at your sight-line. This is true especially during commute hours. The day may even start out raining heavily, but a quick clear up with blinding sun becomes a significant hazard. Consider keeping your sunglasses handy and drive slowly with extra stopping distance at crosswalks. You can also improve driving safety by keeping your windshield clean. Dirty windshields further obscure your vision make it even more difficult to see the road. Remember, once you hit someone, you can’t take it back.

Potholes: Our recent extreme weather has resulted in a substantial increase in the number of potholes on the roadway. Many of these are of dangerous size or depth. We spoke earlier about the dangers of driving through puddles. Think similarly about potholes. They may seem shallow enough, but what if the underlying structure is fragile and your vehicle’s weight causes it to collapse? Or they may be filled with rain water, disguising their actual depth. Hitting a pothole at speed can produce significant damage, and worse yet, cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Reduce your speed or avoid pothole entirely if possible. They may seem insignificant, but they can cause accidents and substantial injury.

Before you jump into your car during this unique transitional season, it’s important to make yourself aware of the driving dangers that await you. Be prepared for heavy rains, powerful wind gusts, and blinding sun glare. Make sure you’ve checked your windshield wipers before you start driving to make sure they are working correctly and clean your windshield well. You can brig your vehicle to our dealership, Serramonte Ford, where wipers are on sale all this month for $5.00 off. We’ll even install them and check them for you. 

And, as soon as you see any raindrops, turn your wipers AND headlight ons. Slow down and keep a safe driving distance between your car and other vehicles. If the rain is so intense that you’re having a hard time seeing, pull over to the side of the road until the storm passes.  If you are stopped on the side of a road, turn on your hazard signal and keep your lights on. 

Here’s to enjoying this year’s Spring and the end to so many rainless months. Stay safe!