Night Driving:

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Night driving is much more dangerous than daytime driving because:

• you cannot see as well at night;
• there are more impaired drivers on the road at night;
• drivers are frequently tired and therefore less alert at night;
• a driver can be blinded by the headlights of an oncoming vehicle; and
• dirty windshields and poor lights can cause problems for some drivers.

Tips for nighttime driving:

• Use the headlights from sunset to sunrise and when visibility is 400 feet or less.
  
  
• When you drive at night in a city, use low-beam headlights. On the open road, use high-beam headlights unless you are approaching or following another car.

Remember:

• When an approaching car does not dim its headlights, you can remind the driver by blinking your high-beams once.
  
  
• If the driver still does not dim the lights, keep your lights on low-beam.
  
  
• Stay on the right side of the road and use the edge of the road as a guide.
  
  
• Reduce speed and watch the road as far ahead as possible, looking slightly to the right so you will not be looking directly into the headlights of oncoming traffic.
  
  
• At night, never drive at a speed at which you cannot stop within the distance you can see on the road ahead.
  
  
• Keep a lookout at all times - bright headlights from another vehicle make it difficult to see beyond their source.

When parking on or along a highway at night:

• Turn on your emergency flashers.
• Never leave your headlights on when you park at night - they can blind the drivers of oncoming vehicles.

Sun Glare:

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Sunlight, either direct or reflected, poses a dangerous driving situation for drivers. To reduce this problem, adjust your sun visor and wear sun glasses. If these do not help, stop on the roadside until you can drive safely.

Rain:

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Rain reduces visibility and makes pavement dangerous. You may be able to see only a few feet ahead; therefore you should drive more slowly than usual, and you must use your headlights and windshield wipers. Stopping distances on slippery pavement increases from two to ten times farther than on dry pavement; therefore, slow down and allow yourself at least twice the normal following distance.

Roads are dangerous just after the rain has begun to fall, especially if it has not rained for a while. For the first 10 to 15 minutes, the rain combines with oil from asphalt and cars, and with dirt, dust and rubber to create a slick surface. You should drive with extreme caution. Drive at least five to ten miles per hour slower on wet pavement than you would on dry pavement. You must also be prepared if your vehicle hydroplanes.

Hydroplaning:

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Hydroplaning occurs when a thin sheet of water gets between the road surface and a vehicle's tires, causing them to lose contact with the road. The vehicle then begins a skatinglike movement across the road. Hydroplaning can start at speeds as low as 30 miles per hour and in water little more than 1/8 inch deep.

When your speed increases, so do the chances of hydroplaning. Your ability to slow, stop, or even slow your vehicle, is greatly reduced. Once you begin to hydroplane, any sudden jerking of the wheel or even a strong gust of wind can send you into an uncontrollable skid that can result in a crash. If you do begin to hydroplane, take your foot off the gas pedal. Resist your instinct to use the brakes. Keep your steering wheel straight and let the car’s momentum ease down until the tires grip the road again and you regain control.

Before going out in rainy weather, check your tires. Tires with deep, open treads allow water to escape and help prevent hydroplaning at moderate speeds. Tires with worn tread and those that are underinflated have less grip on the road surface, increasing your chance of hydroplaning. To properly handle skids, it is better to have tire pressure on the high side, rather than the low side, of the manufacturer’s specifications.

Be alert to warning signs of standing water on the roadway, which can lead to hydroplaning. These include visible reflections on the surface of the water; "dimples" created by rain drips as they hit the water; a "slushing" sound made by your tires; and a "loose" feeling in your steering wheel. If you are driving after a rainstorm has just ended, continue to be cautious. Rain leaves puddles in the road for several hours, sometimes even days, after the showers stop that can cause your car to hydroplane.

Driving in Flood Conditions:

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Inland flooding is responsible for 85% of deaths in North Carolina since 1970 associated with tropical weather. Half of these deaths were caused by driving into known flooded roads.

• Never drive through standing water on a roadway. The water level may be much higher than it appears and it is possible that part of the roadway may be washed away.
• Take precautions whenever you see water moving across a roadway during or after heavy rains or during flooding conditions. Your vehicle may stall and be swept off the roadway into deeper waters. There have been reports that 6 inches of fast moving water can sweep a car off the highway and 12 inches of fast moving water can float a car or cause it to turn over.

Windshield Wipers/Headlights:

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All North Carolina motorists are required to use headlights whenever they are using windshield wipers due to inclement weather.

Fog:

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If you must drive during fog:

• turn on the low beam headlights;
• reduce your driving speed and be alert for taillights of the vehicle in front of you; and
• watch for the vehicles behind you.

If you have extreme trouble seeing, you need to:

• pull far off the roadway;
• stop, secure the vehicle and turn on its emergency flashers; and
• leave the car from the passenger side and stay away from the road.

Snow and Ice:

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Snow and ice make roads very slippery, especially when the temperature is at or below freezing. Hard-packed snow increases the danger of skidding. As you drive, watch for shady spots, bridges and overpasses since these places are often the first to freeze as the temperature drops. If you must drive during a snowstorm, reduce speed, use windshield wipers and turn on the low beam headlights. It is recommended that you reduce speed by more than half for packed snow and slow to a crawl on ice. Use chains if necessary for better traction, but do not forget that even chains and snow tires can slide on ice and packed snow. You cannot start, stop or maneuver quickly in these conditions. Watch for other drivers.

When you are starting or stopping on snowy or icy roads:

• increase your speed slowly;
• get the "feel of the road" by testing your steering control and the braking friction;
• start to move in second gear or higher and release the clutch slowly (for manual shifts);
• allow at least three times the normal stopping distance as you begin to slow down;
• (when you stop) keep your foot off the brake and let the engine slow the vehicle; and
• maintain extra distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you.