SERVPRO of East Nashville, Madison, Goodlettsville : Driving in the storm

3/19/2021 (Permalink)

Singing in the rain is fun. But driving in it? Not so much. Driving in light or heavy floods, or even just rainy, stormy conditions can be anxiety inducing. 

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, there are on average more than 950,000 automobile accidents each year due to wet pavement, resulting in approximately 4,700 deaths and 384,000 injuries. Let’s review the top tips for safely driving in a storm that will help you and others drive to safety in stormy conditions.

Don’t Drive in a Storm Unless you have to

This sounds like a no-brainer, but it still bares to be repeated. The golden rule for safety in storms, is refraining from travelling whenever you can. Keep a close eye on the news and abide by any weather warnings when they arise. This means that if the local weather forecast calls for high winds and heavy rain that day, it’s probably best to leave your errands for a day when driving is a little less risky.

Driving Safely in a Thunderstorm

If you’re caught driving in a thunderstorm, stay calm. As long as you’re in an enclosed, metal vehicle (i.e. hard-topped cars with all of the windows closed), you will be safe. Even if your vehicle is struck by lightning, the electrical current will flow through the metal body of the vehicle to the ground.

On the other hand, driving in an open and soft-topped vehicles like Jeeps or convertibles won’t give you that same level of. For this reason, try to avoid driving in an open or soft-topped vehicle if you know a storm is coming.

Keep your Headlights and Windshield Wipers in Good Condition

Many drivers don’t know this, but It's the law in all 50 states to turn on your headlights when you encounter low visibility. Many states also require having the headlights on when the windshield wipers are in use.

Although Tennessee does not currently require drivers to have their headlights on when your windshield wipers are working, the state law does require them to be on when you encounter “adverse conditions” such as heavy rain, snow, dust, fog, etc. This is why having well-working windshield wipers, headlights and relatively new (not threadbare) tires are must-haves when driving in rain, especially when driving at high speeds on the highway.

Calling the Water Damage Restoration Pros

If you come home from driving in a storm and find your property wet from floor to ceiling, it’s best to act quickly. Instead of calling around town for a “storm chaser,” pick up the phone and call SERVPRO East Nashville at (615) 868-5324 for immediate assistance. Our highly trained technicians will monitor and document the drying process so that you know your property is back to normal. You can trust our team to treat you and your property with respect and care because we understand that a water damage is disruptive and damaging.