Spring has finally sprung! The gloomy winter clouds are far behind us, and the season’s new warm sunlight is rejuvenating each one of us. But while the new season’s start is a relief, we must not forget that winter’s safety hazards aren’t gone yet. They just got replaced with new ones.
Most Canadians like to hit the open road in the springtime. After surviving winter drives, you may think that driving in spring should be easy. But that’s not exactly the case. Spring presents its unique challenges to drivers. With that in mind, here are some of the important safety tips to remember when driving in the spring.
Check Your Windshield Wipers
Rainy or stormy weather in the spring can present several challenges to drivers. For example, rain often presents issues with visibility for drivers on the road. Rainfall or morning mist can restrict your windshield vision, and if you’re not careful enough, you can easily end up in a car accident. This is why it is essential not to overlook or ignore the hazards of rain during the spring.
To ensure safe and better visibility, always have working windshield wipers and headlights. You may also need to replace your wipers, as winter’s snow, ice, and salt can beat them down. Having good working headlights will prevent other drivers from colliding into your car.
Drive-In The Middle Lane When It Rains
Rain does more than just decrease the visibility of drivers. It can also lead to a life-threatening situation called hydroplaning.
Hydroplaning happens when a sheet of water comes between your vehicle’s tires and the pavement, causing your vehicle to lose traction. It can cause the driver to lose overall control of their car, leading to a serious accident.
For this reason, it is essential to keep in mind that a wet road in the spring can be just as dangerous and slippery as an icy one, and must be carefully driven on. To avoid hydroplaning, make sure you always drive in the middle lane as water tends to pool in the outer ones.
Keep A Safe Distance From Other Vehicles
You can avoid all sorts of accidents in the spring by keeping a safe following distance from the vehicle in front of you. Three seconds is considered a safe distance in normal situations. Increase this to eight seconds in the case of a storm or rainfall.
Three-Second Rule
The three-second rule is a general rule that drivers follow to maintain a safe following distance at any speed. According to this rule, a driver may choose a fixed point like a signboard or a building even with the car in front of them. If the driver reaches this point before he can count to three, he is not maintaining a safe distance and needs to fall back a bit.
Give Pedestrians And Animals Their Space
Closer to the middle of spring, you’ll see more people and animals outside enjoying the sunshine. While driving, make sure to be mindful of pedestrians and animals crossing the road. Moreover, it is better to be ready to react instead of reacting at the last minute on impulse, which will only lead to potential road hazards.
Be On The Lookout For Potholes
Winter snow and ice can take a toll on roadways, creating large depressions in the roads surface called potholes. Heavy rain in the spring can fill them up with water making them difficult to see. These potholes can severely damage your car leading to costly repairs.
When driving on a rough road, make sure to avoid these potholes. However, if you can not, remember not to pull the brakes directly over the potholes, as braking can cause your tire to slam into the edge of the hole. When driving over a pothole, keep your speed and firmly hold the steering wheel to avoid injury.
We at Action Towing strongly promote safe driving. However, we are also aware that things can still go wrong even after taking all the precautions. When that happens, and you require quick and reliable roadside assistance, you can contact us here. We provide professional roadside assistance and car towing services in Edmonton and surrounding areas.
