Spring Weather Driving Tips
While spring is the beginning of the warm weather season, it is also the time for severe weather. From heavy rain to damaging hail, spring weather in Missouri has it all. Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC knows firsthand how unpredictable weather in Missouri can be, so it’s important to be prepared for any type of weather. We want to help keep you safe and on the road this season, so the best car dealership at the Lake of the Ozarks has a few tips for you if you come across some severe weather while driving this spring.
Heavy Rain
April showers bring May flowers, but they also bring wet and hazardous driving conditions. Check out these tips for driving during heavy rain.
One of the most important things you can do is slow down during rain and slick road conditions. Slowing down can be critical to reducing a car's chance of hydroplaning. When rain has accumulated on the roads, you should reduce your speed to correspond to the amount of water. If possible, you should try driving in the tracks of the vehicles that are ahead of you.
Avoid using cruise control. While cruise control can be helpful in dry conditions, once it starts raining, the chance of losing control increases. To prevent loss of traction, you may need to reduce the vehicle's speed by lifting off the accelerator, which cannot be done while in cruise control.
Leave more space between cars. While it's also a good idea to leave room between you and the car ahead of you, it's even more important to do so when it's raining. If you're driving in heavy traffic while it's raining, try to avoid being boxed in by cars in the lanes on either side of you. That way, you have an easy out in case the vehicle ahead of you stops suddenly.
Damaging Hail
If possible, get off the road and find shelter when hail starts to fall. Don’t just pull to the side of the road during a hail storm, find shelter under an overpass or bridge, or find the nearest gas station. Hail can cause a lot of damage in a short amount of time, so when it begins, get off the road to avoid damaging your vehicle.
Stay in your vehicle. Don't get out of your car during a hail storm. Hail falls at fast speeds, and it can cause injury to those in its path, just like it can damage a car. It's best to stay in your vehicle until the storm passes.
Strong Wind
Be aware of larger vehicles. During heavy winds, be extra aware of larger vehicles like semi-trucks. They're more susceptible to high winds and they may have a harder time staying in their designated lane. During extremely strong winds, try to keep your distance from other vehicles.
Keep a firm grip. Keep both hands on the wheel when the wind begins to pick up. If the wind is strong enough, it could begin moving your vehicle. When this happens, keep a firm grip on the wheel, especially if you're driving a larger vehicle.
Look out for debris on the road. Twigs or small branches in the road could mean there's a tree or large branch coming up ahead. You also don't want to run over any debris, as it could cause damage to your vehicle. Cars will also be trying to avoid any debris in the roadway, so keep your eye out for cars swerving or jumping into your lane.
Stay Safe on the Road This Spring
While driving during spring weather can sometimes be unavoidable, it’s best to know what to do in case you run across any severe weather. If your car becomes damaged due to any spring weather, or any reason for that matter, our auto body shop at the Lake of the Ozarks can help! At Hulett Chevrolet-Buick-GMC, we can also recommend a new set of tires for your vehicle to make it easier to drive in wet conditions. Give the best car dealership at the Lake of the Ozarks a call to set up an appointment today.
513 N. Business Route 5
Sales: 573.317.4191
That's The Way We Do It At Hulett!
513 N. Business Route 5
Camdenton, MO 65020
Sales: 573.317.4191
Service: 573.317.4195
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