Different road conditions call for different safety tips.
And in Delaware, there are all kinds of road conditions that you will have to face.
This is why, today, we’re going to look at the safe driving tips for the most common Delaware road conditions, namely:
- Driving at night
- Driving during heavy rain, thick fog, and snow
- Driving in hills and curves
- Driving with parked vehicles
- Driving in heavy traffic
With this, you’ll be prepared for anything.
So shall we?
Safe Driving Tips at Night
Yes, it is a known fact that visibility becomes more difficult at night. And even if you are familiar with the roads, other drivers might not be.
If you find yourself driving during the Delaware nights, here are some safety tips to follow:
- Clean up your windshields, windows, and mirrors. Even before you drive out, make sure to clean any dirty windows and side mirrors. These should have no dust. Dirt and dust can impair your view of the road even more. In turn, this can lead to miscalculations on the road.
- Make sure your headlights are angled properly. Your headlights shouldn’t be titled too high as that can blind other drivers. On the other hand, it shouldn’t be too low so that you can see a good distance ahead. If you’re not sure if the angles are right, best to ask a repair facility.
- Reduce the light on your dashboard. If you have very bright lights or reflectors on your dashboard (e.g. light from your electronic device), your eyes will have to adjust every time you look at your dashboard and onto the road. Make sure to dim the lights on your dashboard at a level where you can still see the information on it but won’t be blinded.
If you have a choice, it’s best to avoid driving at night. But of course, there are times when you can’t help it. If that is true, then follow the safety tips above.
Safe Driving Tips During Rain, Fog, and Snow
Like night driving, it’s best to avoid driving under heavy rain, fog, or snow.
Driving in these road conditions not only impairs your vision but actually makes it difficult to drive properly. Even the most experienced drivers might have a hard time.
But again, if you have no choice but to drive, here are a few things you should always remember to do:
- Turn on your headlights. During bad weather, make sure to turn on your headlights so that you can see what’s in front of you. It also helps other vehicles to know that you are there, so they can keep a safe distance.
- Turn off cruise control. One of the biggest mistakes you can make is to turn on cruise control when there’s rain, fog, or snow. With cruise control, your vehicle relies on its normal controls. However, bad weather needs abnormal control, meaning you need to be more careful. Don’t forget to turn it off and be the one to control your car.
- Pull over if you need to. Sometimes, the best safety tip is to pull over. Don’t force yourself to drive through bad weather. If you see a parking lot near you, pull over and let the weather calm down before hitting the road again.
Safe Driving Tips in Hills and Curves
Because you can’t see the opposite lane, it can be dangerous driving through hills and curves.
And you’ll find both road conditions in the state of Delaware.
So in these cases, it’s best to be extra careful when rounding a curve or going over a hilly road.
Here are some tips you can follow when driving in hills and curves:
- Brake carefully. This doesn’t mean that you have to step on the brakes all the time. No, this will only exhaust your brakes, which can make them less effective when you need to make a sudden stop. Instead, brake from time to time and step on it slowly to preserve them.
- Don’t turn fully. In other words, try to reduce the turning in curves as much as possible. To do this, you can slowly inch toward the farthest side of the road and just do a slight turn on the curve.
- Stay in your lane. Overtaking in curves or hills is very dangerous. What if there is an incoming car that you didn’t see? To avoid any collisions happening, just stay on your late and wait for a straight road before you can overtake.
Safe Driving Tips with Parked Vehicles
The problem with parked vehicles on the side of the road is that you don’t know when somebody’s going to open a door or if it’s going to start moving.
Since we’re relying on other people’s actions, here are a few things you can do to lessen the inconvenience for you:
- Keep a safe distance. This time, it’s best to keep a safe distance to the side of the parked vehicle. Always assume that there’s somebody who might approach their car or might open a door.
- Observe the car even from a distance. Don’t wait to reach the car before you decide to observe it. If you spot them meters away, try to observe if someone’s inside the car or if it’s signaling to move. This way, you can do the appropriate move depending on the parked car’s situation.
Safe Driving Tips in Heavy Traffic
When there’s heavy traffic, the chances of collisions are lower since most cars will be slower than their regular speed. However, accidents can still occur.
To avoid accidents in traffic, here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Stay in your lane. It can be tempting to change lanes whenever a lane is moving faster. If you’re planning to change lanes, make sure to do so carefully and not abruptly. As much as possible, avoid changing lanes too often.
- Mimic the speed of cars around you. When you’re in heavy traffic, don’t go faster than the cars in front of you because you might end up braking suddenly. This also surprises the car at the back. So if you’re approaching heavy traffic, reduce speed and match the speed of the cars around you.
- Avoid cars that seem to be in a hurry. During rush hours, there will always be drivers that love speeding and trying to get the fastest way to get out of traffic. If you see cars like these, avoid them.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many different road conditions in Delaware.
And no, we’re not just talking about weather conditions.
There are also the Delaware road conditions that involve hills and curves, night driving, heavy traffic, and more.
So now that you know these safety tips, it’s best to keep them in mind. And of course, make sure to follow them when you find yourself driving in one of these conditions.
Remember, the best way to stay safe during these unpredictable scenarios is to stay alert, drive carefully, and keep a safe distance.
Safe driving!