Driving in a hailstorm might seem exciting, but this kind of extreme weather can in fact be very dangerous. Hailstorms tend to occur very suddenly, and often by surprise when the weather is otherwise very good. The unexpected nature of this type of weather can therefore leave drivers taken by surprise. The next time this happens to you, take the following advice from our team at DCH Audi Oxnard to ensure that you and your passengers remain safe.
The first and most important piece of advice is to leave the road and take shelter as soon as possible. Even a fairly moderate hailstorm could damage your car or cause injury, and in a severe hailstorm, the risk of damage is even higher. Leave the road as soon as it’s safe to do so, and try to park where there’s cover, like a gas station or under a bridge.
If you can’t find shelter, try to park with your car facing the storm so the hail hits the windshield rather than the side windows. The windshield is much more likely to be reinforced. Make sure you park away from any ditches, where there may be a lot of rising water or where it will be difficult to leave the car suddenly in an emergency.
Keep the safety of passengers as your top priority. Don’t leave the car unless you have to or unless there’s shelter immediately available, as hail can fall at extremely high speeds and cause injury to unprotected witnesses. Inside the car, get everyone to lie down with their back to the windows. This minimizes the risk that any broken glass particles cause facial injuries. If you have blankets, jumpers, or coats in the car, cover up to prevent injury from debris.
If you are forced to drive through a hailstorm, turn on your headlights and set them to low beam so that your visibility is as good as possible. Slow right down so that you can brake suddenly, if required, and maintain extra distance between you and the car in front. Approach intersections very carefully and treat all traffic lights like stop signs.
It’s worth remembering that hailstorms can come and go quickly too. If the storm ends and you carry on driving, be wary that another storm may soon follow. Listen to the local radio station for information about any other approaching storms. If appropriate, it may be better to leave the car and take shelter indoors somewhere until all the storms have passed.
