Keeping it Safe - Changing your Driving Style according to the Weather

South Africa is a beautiful country and in many parts of our fair land, a motorist might experience all four seasons in one day of driving.
As a responsible motorist you should always adjust your driving style, depending on the conditions you find yourself in.

High winds

With a hugely varying topography, many specific areas of South Africa are subject to variable high winds. Usually found in valleys and around mountain passes, high winds can play havoc with the handling of motor vehicles. If you find yourself in windy conditions it is best advisable to slow down and be extra vigilant of cross winds; do not fight your vehicle’s steering, but also do not let the vehicle be pushed too far off course. Be vigilant of marked roads that experience high winds and keep an eye out for large commercial vehicles which are more likely to be affected by high winds, and have been known to be blown over.

Fog and Mist

These conditions are found all over South Africa, from mountain passes and valleys to large open expanses. In general, driving in heavy fog and mist is a bad idea and should be avoided at all costs. If you drive into a fog bank or have to travel on misty roads, you should ensure that, if fitted, your fog lights are on, and slow down to a pace that will enable you to react fast enough.

If these conditions occur during daylight hours, do not put your high beams on as these can reduce visibility due to light refraction off of the mist or fog. Also, do not use you hazard indicators as it could be misleading to other motorists - in other words, they may expect an emergency situation. If visibility becomes too poor, it is advisable to pull off the road, and wait until the conditions clear, if you are in a safe enough area to do so.

Sunrise and Sunset

Although not weather conditions, sunrise and sunset are prime times for accidents. With many roads in South Africa running on east /west bearings, the chances are very high that drivers will experience poor visibility for some time in the morning and afternoon.

If you find yourself driving into the sun, make use of the sunshade in your car. During sunrise and sunset we strongly advise the use of anti-glare sunglasses and make sure that your headlights are on. You should also reduce your speed and avoid taking chances while overtaking or changing lanes.

Hail

Experienced all over South Africa, hail is most destructive in the northern regions with cricket ball-sized chunks of ice falling out of the sky, causing damage of millions of Rands. Insurers have taken to sending out hail storm warnings to try and reduce the number of claims that flood in afterwards.

Should you be caught unawares in one of these destructive storms, you are strongly advised to seek shelter as soon as possible. Do not park under a tree, as the risk of falling debris escalates with the storm. If you feel the need to drive through it, slow down and switch on your hazard lights. Visibility decreases significantly during these storms, which pass reasonably quickly. Perhaps just waiting for it to pass while you take cover, is a better option than trying to fight with mother nature and risking severe damage to your car.

Snow

Snowy roads are a rare occurrence in South Africa, but not unheard of. Every winter the highest regions of South Africa experience snowfall and although they are remote, there are major roads that run through these areas.

If you really must go snow-chasing or are caught travelling in these areas, there are a few things you must be aware of. Snow will freeze into ice patches along well-travelled routes and cause areas of ‘black ice’. This looks like a tar road surface but is in fact a sheet of slippery ice that will cause you car to lose traction. This phenomenon often catches out unwary motorists who start slipping and sliding all over the place, and most likely into the nearest obstacle. Unless you are capable of driving ‘sideways’, exercise extreme caution.

If you really want to build that snowman or are just passing through, keep your lights on, slow down and if your windows mist up blow cold air onto the windscreen. Get a feel for the way the car is moving beneath you; that will alert you to a possible loss of traction and having a very cold, bad day. If your vehicle is equipped with traction or stability control, make sure it is engaged.

Rain

Finally we get to the weather we experience everywhere, every year. The rainy seasons in South Africa usually bring large quantities of rain, but for the last few years we’ve seen barely a splash. Perhaps during this time, we motorists have forgotten what we are supposed to do when water falls out of the sky.

Localized rainfall in the northern regions will often lead to flooding of low-lying areas with many rivers bursting their banks. Many a driver will be caught unawares or simply forget that fast water is deceptively destructive. Never try to cross a flooded road. Find an alternative route or simply wait for the water to recede.

Further south, the winter brings with it continuous rainfall that soaks the ground. This makes certain areas susceptible to landslides and roads being washed out. Motorist should be aware of these areas and try avoid them if they can.

Whether you are driving in the north or south of the country, all motorists should use common sense and slow down, keep their lights on and increase their following distance. Do not speed at any cost!

In preparation for the rainy season, motorists should ensure that their cars are fully roadworthy by checking that all their lights are working and that there is sufficient tread on their tyres, as this is the only contact your car has with the road.

If you are a road user, it is your responsibility to ensure the safety of yourself and others. All in all, being aware of your surroundings, adjusting your driving style to suit the environment and ensuring your motor vehicle’s roadworthiness, is every motorist’s responsibility.