Storm Brendan - How to drive safely in strong winds.

As Storm Brendans 90 mph winds hit Britain this week, we’ve been discussing how driving in stormy weather can be extremely hazardous. At BP Rolls Group, our car bodyshop sees its fair share of damaged vehicles as a result of accidents that occur due to the elements. so to help you stay as safe as possible on the roads we’ve come up with our top ten tips for driving in strong winds.

1. Plan your journey

Always plan your route before you leave, choosing roads with less exposure/risk to the weather if at all possible. Always choose a sheltered route if you have the option and let people know you’re travelling in case you get stuck and your phone runs out of battery.

2. Check for road closures

If you must travel, check your local news bulletins to keep up to date with road closures, the last thing you want is to get stuck in a queue of traffic due to a road closure you could have avoided.

3. Pack for an emergency

It is always a good idea to pack provisions in your car before any journey, but even more so if there’s a chance severe weather could disrupt your journey or cause a breakdown. We recommend warm clothes, a fully charged mobile phone, some food and water.

4. Drive slowly

High winds can get under a car and affect its handling and braking significantly. We’ve seen many customers who have been taken by surprise by strong gusts. Slowing down will help you anticipate these gusts and dramatically reduce the impact they have on your driving.

5. Don’t leave yourself exposed

As well as driving too fast, driving on roads that are more exposed to high winds such as bridges, motorways surrounded by flat fields, will leave your vehicles more susceptible to the impact of sudden gusts so be wary of the hazards on route.

6. Be careful when overtaking

High-sided vehicles such as buses and HGVs in particular can represent a hazard when overtaking. Driving past large vehicles can often result in a sudden sideways gust as you clear, so be prepared for this change in how the vehicle may respond during the manoeuvre.

7. Keep a firm grip

Hold the steering wheel firmly! Strong winds are not constant; they’re usually gusty in their nature and can catch you off guard. Equally it is important not to grip too tightly as this may restrict movement or cause you to jerk the wheel, but try to maintain a firm grasp so you have as much control over the wheel and your vehicle as possible.

8. Allow more room

Cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries and buses get blown around easily by side winds so we advise you to give more room than usual when following or passing other vehicles.

9. Be aware of other road users

As above, be vigilant and keep an eye on what is happening to other vehicles around you. Spotting when and where other vehicles appear to be blown off course by the wind will give you a pre-warning of the conditions and help you avoid hazards.

10. Keep your distance

The majority of motorway accidents happen when people don’t keep enough distance between them and the vehicle in front. When driving in strong winds, this rule becomes even more important for your safety. Keep extra distance between you and the car in front – consider increasing the two-second rule to three or even four seconds.

STAY SAFE!

The bottom line whenever sever weather is forecast should be to consider whether your journey is really necessary, opting only to travel where there is no other option.

If conditions get too hard to cope with and you get the chance to pull over, do so and, if it is safe and legal, phone a family member or friend and let them know that you have stopped for a while.

Here’s a brief recap on our tips for driving in a storm:

• Only travel when absolutely necessary
• Plan your journey carefully, checking weather and traffic bulletins regularly
• Keep both hands on the wheel
• Be ready for stronger winds and gusts on exposed stretches of road
• Keep your speed down – strong gusts won’t blow you as far off course
• Take care and leave extra room around vulnerable road users such as cyclists and motorcyclists
• Keep your distance from other vehicles, especially high-sided vehicles and caravans
• Look out for twigs or small branches in the road - they could mean there’s a tree or large branch in the way around the next bend

We’re here to help

If you suffer the misfortune of an accident, let BP Rolls Group get your car back on the road. Just give our customer care team a call and we will do everything we can to help you, from arranging recovery, to dealing with your insurer. Just call 01264 361516.

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