Have you ever driven through highway work zones?
Or during bad weather?
What about just at night…
While it’s always safer to let bad road conditions pass, there are instances when we just have to drive through it.
If so, the best we can do is know how to safely do that.
And that’s what we’re here for — we’ll give you safe driving tips for different Nevada road conditions.
So are you ready?
Let’s go!
Safe Driving Tips for Nevada Road Conditions
We’ll give you safe driving tips when it comes to:
- Driving at night
- Driving in bad weather
- Driving in flash floods
- Driving in highway work zones
- Driving through emergencies
The common tip you’ll hear people say is to slow down.
While this is the best way to stay out of danger, there are other things you need to keep in mind.
How to Drive Safely at Night
Driving at night can be challenging for newbies and experienced drivers. Visibility is low, and the glare makes it even harder to see.
So what are the safety tips when driving at night?
- Do not look directly at the headlights of other vehicles. Look straight ahead or in your own lane.
- Reduce the brightness of the devices on your dashboard. This helps your eyes adjust quickly when you look at it than the road.
- Always check if you are within the lane lines so you know if you are driving in your lane.
- Be more alert for people crossing the road. Remember, pedestrians are harder to see in the dark.
- Make sure that your windshield is clean and clear before heading out at night.
- You are required to turn on your headlights 30 minutes after sunset or 30 minutes before sunrise. You are also required to turn on your headlights when there’s not enough light.
- Like your windshield, headlights should always be clean to keep the lights bright.
- Never wear sunglasses or tinted eyewear.
How to Drive Safely in Bad Weather
If the weather is bad, try to avoid driving altogether. But if you must, here are things to remember:
- Change your tires depending on the weather. If it’s snowing and the snow gets very thick, it’s best to use winter tires.
- Always check your tires before leaving. Make sure it has the right pressure — you don’t want it too flat or too full.
- Keep a safe distance from the car ahead. You can increase the distance if the roads are extra slippery.
- Be alert for black ice (ice that looks transparent). If you pass over this, do not hit the brakes. Just continue driving in one direction.
- Keep your windshield and windows clear. Use a defroster to keep them clear when fog or mist covers them.
- Do not change direction abruptly. If you have to turn, turn gradually without slamming on the brakes.
- Do not use cruise control. It’s better to have full control when dealing with bad weather, especially rain and snow.
How to Drive Safely in Flash Floods
Did you know that prolonged rain isn’t the only cause of flash floods?
In Nevada, flash floods can occur during a spring thaw or a summer storm.
It’s called a flash flood and not just a regular flood because the former can cause drivers to lose control of their cars. Some cars even end up floating.
The most important thing to know is that you’re not always safer inside your car. If your car stops or gets stuck in water, it may topple over causing injuries to you and your passengers.
If you find yourself in the middle of a flash flood, here are things you should remember:
- Decide whether it’s safer to stay in your car (if you can drive out of the flood) or if you have to abandon it and look for higher ground.
- If your vehicle stops and you can’t turn it back on, leave your vehicle and go to an elevated area. Do not try to stay inside the car because the vehicle might easily be pushed by the water to a deeper part of the flood.
- If you already spot flooding ahead, turn around and take a detour. Do not attempt to brave the floods.
- Be extra cautious at night, especially since it’s harder to determine how deep the flood is.
- Avoid braving the flood even if you think it’s shallow.
- Barricades are there for a reason. Do not go past them. Instead, make a detour.
- Drive away from streams, rivers, and creeks.
How to Drive Safely in Highway Work Zones
You can identify a work zone if it has orange signs, cones, and/or barricades. Some work zones will have warning signs and detour signs to tell you where you need to go.
If you’re passing through a work zone, always expect the road to be hoarse and narrow.
Here are some tips for driving through them:
- Look for workers crossing the road or carrying objects. Avoid going near them.
- Give space between you and the barricades.
- Take turns in merging with other vehicles.
- Look for flaggers that tell you where to go. Their instructions will precede other traffic signs in the work zone.
How to Drive Safely in Emergency Situations
To spot an emergency, look for signs of:
- Stopped vehicles
- Law enforcement or emergency vehicles
- Tow trucks
- A vehicle displaying flashing lights
If you are approaching these vehicles, you are required to:
- Decrease your speed slowly. Do not abruptly slow down so that other vehicles will not crash into you.
- Proceed with caution while being alert to what is happening in your surroundings.
- Always keep your eyes on the road. Focus on your driving instead of checking what happened.
- If there is an available lane farther from the incident, move to this lane to avoid getting tangled in the emergency.
- Be prepared to stop if necessary.
Conclusion
So that was the safe driving tips for different Nevada road conditions.
Driving through these conditions is very common in the state. This is why it’s important to know what to do to keep safe.
And if you are unsure what to do, remember the common rule to slow down and be alert. Remember, the most important thing is that you’re safe.
Keep safe!