Safe Driving Tips in High Speed Winds

 Posted on February 28,2018 in Car Accidents

The greater Chicago area experienced gusts of winds as strong as 50 miles per hour throughout the final weekend of February. According to ABC 7 Chicago, the damage was immense and a number of streets were temporarily shut down due to falling debris.

For drivers, wind represents one more dangerous element of driving throughout the greater Chicagoland area. Heavy winds can increase the likelihood of a driver losing control of his or her vehicle, thus increasing the likelihood of a side-swipe collision, a vehicle roll over, or even a head-on collision.

Understanding the risks of driving in less than ideal weather can ultimately be the difference between a safe journey and an automobile collision. If you or a member of your family are involved in a motor vehicle accident, it is important that you speak with a Waukegan personal injury attorney to discuss your case and legal options.

Tips for Driving in Windy Conditions

• Check Your Peripheries: Severe wind gusts can result in loose debris. When driving on high speed roadways, a flying piece of debris could impact visibility or alter the trajectory of your vehicle. In a worst case scenario, flying debris could cause severe damage to your vehicle as well as its passengers. Moreover, loss of visibility or an alteration of trajectory can result in dangerous head-on collisions, as well as injuries.
• Watch Out for Snow Drifts: Driving in the Chicago area, we all know how snow can impact your safety while driving. When heavy wind gusts are present, the dangers of snow are amplified. High speed wind gusts can cause snow drifts, resulting in a driver losing visibility and potentially losing control of his or her vehicle. If there snow is present on the roadways or surrounding areas, watch for incoming snow drifts.
• Keep Two Hands on the Wheel: While driving in heavy winds, an easy way to give your vehicle additional stability can come from simply putting both hands on your steering wheel. Driving with two hands limits the likelihood of a side-swipe collision with another vehicle or a head-on collision. If winds are strong enough that your vehicle looses control with two hands on the wheel, try to calmly return to your lane by gently turning the wheel back in the correct direction. Auto correction is one of the primary culprits in deadly automobile accidents and can result in vehicle rollovers. Hence, it is important that you not panic and turn your wheel too quickly.

Contact a Compassionate Car Accident Lawyer in Illinois Today

Nature is strong willed. Between drastic wind storms, heavy snow falls, and temperature fluctuation resulting in dangerous black ice, Illinois roadways have been particularly dangerous this winter.

If you or a loved one are involved in an automobile accident or suffer injuries in a slip and fall, contact our experienced team of Waukegan personal injury attorneys to discuss your case and legal options.

Sources:

http://abc7chicago.com/high-winds-flooding-cause-damage-across-chicago-northwest-indiana/3137880/

https://www.defensivedriving.com/blog/how-to-drive-safely-in-strong-wind/