In Nebraska, there are all kinds of road conditions that pose certain dangers.
And as a driver, you should be ready for these and know how to deal with them.
This is why, here, we’re going to give you safe driving tips for different Nebraska road conditions. We’re going to look at:
- How to drive safely on an interstate
- How to drive safely at night
- How to drive safely in adverse weather
With this, you can avoid unwanted collisions, crashes, and accidents.
So let’s dive right in!
Safe Driving Tips for Nebraska Road Conditions
You always need to adjust your driving depending on the road condition. In the next sections, we’ll give several tips on how to drive safely in different situations.
How to Drive Safely on an Interstate
In Nebraska, an interstate simply means any road that has controlled access and a multi-lane highway.
If you’re entering an interstate, here’s what you should do:
- Look for a gap between the traffic on the interstate. This is where you aim to enter it.
- When you’re merging with traffic, adjust your speed and use your turn signal. This tells the car on the interstate that you are about to enter.
- When you enter the interstate, make sure that you’re within one lane only – the lane that is nearest to the road you came from.
Once you’re on the interstate, here’s what to keep in mind:
- Always maintain your speed, but keep within the speed limits stated on the road signs.
- If you’re driving slower than the rest of the vehicles, stay in the rightmost lane. Do not speed up when other cars are trying to pass you.
- Use your signals if you want to change lanes. However, don’t make unnecessary lane changes. Stay in your lane as much as possible.
- If you miss your exit, do not back up. Instead, keep going and exit on to the next one.
If you’re leaving the interstate, this is how to do it:
- Identify what exit you’re using. Watch out for signs indicating the distance between you and your planned exit.
- If your exit is near (a mile or so), move to the right lane so you can exit easily.
- Stay alert for merging traffic or two-way traffic once you leave the interstate.
How to Drive Safely at Night
Driving at night poses a danger as visibility is reduced. Even seasoned drivers have a harder time driving at night.
It’s a general rule to be more alert when you’re driving at night, but here are other things you need to do:
- Turn on your headlights once sunset starts. Only turn it off during sunrise.
- Use your low beams when the sun’s light starts to fade and the darkness starts. The low beams will make you visible to other drivers while not giving too much glare.
- Adjust your speed when driving at night. Slow down to make sure you can react in time.
- It’s illegal to drive with parking lights as the only light on.
- Make sure your windshield is clean and clear of obstructions. This is so it won’t be even harder to see.
- Dim the bright screens on your dashboard. This is to reduce the adjustment your eyes have to make moving from your screen to the windshield.
- Be alert for pedestrians. It will be a lot harder to see pedestrians crossing in the dark.
- Do not glare at an oncoming vehicle’s light. Instead, you can turn your eyes to the right so you will not be blinded.
How to Drive Safely in Adverse Weather
In Nebraska, it’s common to have bad weather during some seasons. You should be prepared to drive (or not drive) in adverse weather.
Let’s go through them one by one.
How to Drive Safely in the Rain
Here are tips for driving safely in heavy rain:
- Reduce speed, but do so gradually. Do not suddenly step on the brakes because you might skid.
- Avoid using cruise control. When it is raining, you need full control of your vehicle.
- Use low-beam headlights to make yourself visible.
- Give more distance between you and the car in front. This way, you don’t have to slam on your brakes and cause skidding.
How to Drive Safely in Flood
Here are tips for driving safely in flooded areas:
- If you see a flood, do not attempt to drive past it. Turn around and look for an alternate route.
- Use road signs or street markers to check the height of the flood. If there’s already 6 inches of water, it’s no longer passable.
- Even if the flood looks shallow and passable, it’s best to avoid it. Some floods can be deceiving. If the wind is hard, the current of the water can cause you to lose control of your car.
How to Drive Safely Through Fog
Here are the tips for driving safely in thick fog:
- If you know that you’ll drive through foggy conditions, it’s best to install fog lights for better visibility.
- Use low-beam headlights or your fog lights. This will also turn on your taillights, making you visible to other vehicles.
- Maintain a safe speed. If you can’t see anything in front, you need to be prepared to stop at any time.
- If the fog is too thick and it’s hard to see clearly, signal and pull over. Once you pull over, turn off your lights so drivers won’t think you’re on the road.
How to Drive Safely in High Wind
Here are the tips for driving safely in high winds:
- When it’s windy outside, watch the weather or the news to know if it’s safe to drive. Do not leave the house unless it’s necessary.
- If you’re driving alongside large vehicles, try to steer clear of them. These vehicles are more vulnerable to losing control during windy conditions.
- Pay attention to bicycles and motorcycles on the road since they might lose control as well. Do not honk or flash your lights at them.
- Be prepared to steer your vehicle in the right direction in case the wind steers your car in a different direction.
How to Drive Safely in a Blizzard
Here are the tips for driving safely in blizzards:
- If a blizzard hits and you can make a stop, do so. It’s best to stay away or let the blizzard pass.
- Press steadily on the brakes. Never step on the brakes suddenly to avoid skidding.
- Be alert for icy spots and wet parts of the road. Slow down when approaching them and try to steer in one direction only.
- If your car gets stuck, do not attempt to spin your tires since it may only dig deeper in the snow. Put your gear in the lowest and alternate moving forward and backward.
Conclusion
And that was your safe driving tips for the different Nebraska road conditions.
If you didn’t notice, a common driving tip when driving in any road condition is to slow down. Slowing down does wonders for your safety.
However, nothing beats prevention. If you are going for a drive and you know that there’s a chance of heavy rain, strong wind, or a blizzard, do not leave your house. Postpone your trip if you can.
If you can’t avoid driving, then make sure you follow these safety tips.
Stay safe!