Thunderstorms: Correct driving behaviour and important tips
Driving in a thunderstorm: most important rules
Slow down
Most drivers have had this experience at some point: The wind blows strongly against the vehicle and you drift unintentionally to the side. This scenario is not unlikely, especially on motorways, open country roads, bridges and forest aisles. However, you can avert dire consequences if you slow down in time. Then you are more likely to stay in control of your car and have more time to react. Even at a speed of 100 km/h, if your car is caught by a 70 km/h gust of wind, it can easily get off track by one meter.
Pay attention to other road users
You should also always keep an eye on your surroundings in stormy weather. It can be dangerous on the side of trucks or other large vehicles. You should also keep enough distance from the vehicle in front to be able to react in time in an emergency. Another tip: Drive offset to the other road users, as this gives you more space to swerve. Risky overtaking maneuvers should be avoided in strong winds.
What to look out for during thunderstorms?
Lightning is largely harmless
The good news is that when there is lightning and thunder, your car is one of the safest places you can find yourself in such a situation. It acts as a so-called Faraday cage: lightning strikes are simply dissipated into the ground via the body. So virtually nothing can happen to you - but you should make sure that the car roof and windows are closed and do not touch any fittings or bare metal parts in the car to be on the safe side.
Attention aquaplaning
If you are dealing with heavy rain during thunderstorms, extreme caution is advised. Aquaplaning can quickly occur on the road: the rain forms a stagnant layer on the road surface, the tires of your car "float up" and lose traction. As a result, your car can quickly skid. To avoid this, you should definitely reduce your speed in good time when it rains. If you have already been caught by aquaplaning, take your foot off the accelerator and, if possible, disconnect the power flow by depressing the clutch or, in the case of automatic transmissions, switching to the N position. In this case, you should avoid braking and strong countersteering at all costs. Please also note that heavy rain also drastically reduces visibility. Therefore, it is essential to drive particularly attentively and carefully. You should also make sure that your car has functional wiper blades. If these no longer clean the pane reliably, form streaks or do not rest properly on the glass, you should replace them as soon as possible.
Dangerous gusts of wind
Strong winds from the side should also not be underestimated, which can push your car out of the lane. It becomes particularly life-threatening if you are caught by a gust of wind on bridges or mountain tops. In any case, be sure to slow down and do not hesitate to pull over to the right at the next opportunity and wait until the storm has passed.
Thunderstorms: What do you have to check on a car?
In autumn and winter, the windshield wipers and windshield washer system of a car are put to the test. They are in use almost every day to remove rain, snow, dirt and salt from the windows and to ensure a clear view. Regular checks of the wiper blades and timely replacement when they are worn out go a long way towards your own safety. Of course, the water level in the container of the windshield washer system must not be forgotten during the check. Checking the fill level and regularly topping up water with enough forest protection agent can save one or two nasty surprises, especially on longer motorway journeys.
The ADAC recommends the O to O rule for winter tyres. This means that motorists should equip their vehicles with winter tyres from October to Easter. From temperatures of less than 7 degrees Celsius, the special rubber compound of the winter tires provides better grip. On slippery and snowy roads, the coarse tread pattern provides more grip in curves and shortens the braking distance. If you drive without winter tires in winter, you not only risk a fine, but also endanger your own health and the health of others.
What else needs to be considered?
Increase Distance
The distance to the vehicle in front should always be large enough in road traffic to be able to brake in time. If the road surface is wet, you have to expect a longer braking distance. In heavy rain, it is also advisable not to brake suddenly, but rather to slow down slowly and slow down the car.
Be considerate of pedestrians
Especially within built-up areas, drivers should pay attention to pedestrians in heavy rain, because they want to escape the moisture as quickly as possible and sometimes cross roads even at red pedestrian lights. Therefore, it is advisable to keep an eye on the sidewalks and pedestrian paths during heavy rainfall to prevent accidents.
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