What should you do if you encounter bad weather while driving?

When encountering bad weather while driving, reducing speed and increasing following distance is vital for safety. Bad weather conditions, such as rain, snow, fog, or ice, can significantly affect vehicle handling and visibility. By reducing speed, you allow yourself more time to react to any sudden obstacles or changes in traffic and road conditions.

Increasing the following distance gives you a safer buffer zone between your vehicle and the one in front of you. This extra space allows for a longer stopping distance, which is crucial when traction is compromised. It also provides you with a better opportunity to assess the situation ahead without the added pressure of closing in on the vehicle in front.

This approach helps prevent skidding, loss of control, and rear-end collisions, which are more common during bad weather conditions. Making smart adjustments to your driving behavior in response to environmental factors is a key component of defensive driving.