Weather and Road Conditions: How Families Should Adjust Their Driving

Water on the road reduces tyre friction substantially. At highway speeds on a wet surface, stopping distances can be two to three times longer than on dry pavement — meaning the two-second rule you follow in dry conditions isn't enough. Extend your gap to at least four seconds in moderate rain, more in heavy downpours.

Brake gently and progressively rather than jabbing the pedal. If your vehicle lacks automatic emergency braking, be especially deliberate. Avoid cruise control in wet conditions — it can prevent you from naturally lifting off the throttle when grip starts to fade. Turn headlights on whenever wipers are running; in many US states this is required by law and it significantly increases your visibility to other drivers.

High-beam headlights in fog actually make visibility worse — the light bounces off water droplets and creates glare that obscures the road ahead. Switch to low beams (and use rear fog lights if your vehicle has them) so other drivers can see you without being blinded.

Reduce speed far more than feels instinctive. Fog can make it impossible to react to hazards — a stopped vehicle, a pedestrian, a bend — until you're dangerously close. Drive at a speed at which you can stop comfortably within the distance you can actually see. Pull off the road safely if fog becomes dense enough to make driving genuinely dangerous, and use hazard lights to signal your position. For how fog compounds with darkness, see our piece on night driving with the family.

On ice, traction can disappear almost entirely. The guiding principle is gentleness: smooth, gradual steering inputs; slow, progressive braking; light acceleration. Jerky movements are far more likely to induce a skid than steady ones.

Increase following distance to eight to ten seconds or more. Begin slowing well before junctions, bends, and hills — coasting off the throttle early is more effective than braking late on a slippery surface. Bridges and overpasses freeze before road surfaces because cold air circulates underneath; treat them with particular caution. If you do enter a skid, steer gently in the direction you want to go and avoid stamping on the brakes. Understanding stopping distances on ice is central to safe winter driving — our explainer on speed, space, and stopping covers the physics clearly.

Strong side winds — particularly on open roads, bridges, or when passing large trucks — can push a vehicle sideways unexpectedly. Higher-profile vehicles like SUVs and minivans are more susceptible than low-slung cars. The correction is to ease off the throttle (which lowers your speed and gives tyres more lateral grip) and hold the wheel with both hands, with a firm but not rigid grip.

Pay attention to wind warnings in weather forecasts before long trips, especially in exposed areas. Passing or being passed by large trucks on a windy day creates a brief but significant buffeting effect — anticipate it rather than react to it. Reduce speed proactively in exposed stretches rather than waiting until the car is moving sideways.

Flooded roads are among the most underestimated hazards in poor weather. Just six inches of moving water can knock a person over; one to two feet can carry away most passenger vehicles. Road surfaces beneath floodwater are invisible — the road may be damaged or missing entirely.

If you encounter standing or flowing water across the road, do not attempt to cross unless you can see the surface clearly and are confident of the depth. Turn around and find an alternate route. This is especially important with children in the vehicle: evacuation from a submerged car is difficult for adults and far harder for young passengers. After driving through unavoidable shallow water, test your brakes gently — wet brake components can reduce stopping power momentarily.