The UAE’s winters are frequently marked by hazy mornings, sporadic sandstorms, and occasional rain from cloud seeding. All three causes reduced visibility on the roads, which raises the risk of accidents. Checking the quality of your car’s brakes, tyres, and especially its headlights is a good idea as the cold weather approaches. Additionally, you should always take specific precautions to guarantee a safe driving experience.
In the United Arab Emirates, the winter season is a welcome break from the oppressive summer heat. Attractions like the Dubai Miracle Garden, Dubai Garden Glow, and others are frequently visited at this period. Winter also brings about a less-than-fun weather situation, though.
Driving Advice in Fog
In the UAE, we typically can’t avoid foggy weather throughout the winter. When it’s foggy outside, driving is challenging, if not downright impossible. Anyone who intends to go outside while it’s foggy must take precautions. The following advice will help you stay safe while traveling in such circumstances:
View the weather report
Check the news for any forecasts of foggy weather even before you leave the house. Call your office to let them know you might be arriving late if you happen to be driving when you run into foggy streets. They’ll comprehend!
Take A Step Back
Although this rule is applicable in all driving circumstances, it is especially important when it is foggy outside. To prevent accidents, keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you. Keep an eye on your pace and go slowly.
Activate the Heating
Condensation buildup inside your car may result from cool, foggy weather. Your windows will remain clear and improve sight if you switch on your heater.
Activate the Fog Lights
Although not every automobile has front fog lights, every car ought to have rear fog lights, especially now that it’s the law. To avoid “dazzling” other drivers, switch on your fog lights while you’re in the fog and turn them off as soon it clears.
Utilize Additional Safety Measures
Consider using other safety features, such as the car defroster and windscreen wipers, in addition to turning on your fog lights. The windscreen wipers in particular are necessary to keep your windscreen clear in foggy weather. Wipers for the windscreen are helpful.
Driving With the Hazard Lights On is Not Advised
Although you might be tempted to activate your warning lights to increase your “visibility,” this is not a smart move. When you turn them on, your car is essentially “stationary.” As a result, the car in front of you may suddenly brake if it believes you have stopped, which could cause an accident.
Be Attentive as You Listen
Turn off your automobile radio out of caution so you can pay closer attention to the other vehicles surrounding you. To hear any essential sounds, open your window a little. Even with your window open, the wind noise wouldn’t be as loud because of how slowly you’re moving.
Avoid Lane Changes
Foggy weather reduces sight, therefore now is not the time to change lanes frequently! Keep to the inner lane as much as you can, and drive slowly! Keep in mind that there may have been other drivers on the road when you changed lanes that you may not have seen.
Make sure your hazard lights are on and park your car on the side of the road away from oncoming traffic if you have to stop your vehicle for any reason. Keep to the right side of your lane to keep traffic traveling in the other direction away from you.
Avoid using your high beams while driving in the fog as it limits visibility; instead, use your fog lights. Always use your turn signal to alert oncoming traffic while changing lanes or turning. When visibility is poor, you may wander out of your lane, so check in on yourself from time to time.
Driving Advice in the Rain
Stopping Distance
Drivers not allowing themselves enough space to stop in the rain when the car in front abruptly brakes or is involved in an accident is a serious issue. You should be ready for strange driving behavior because not all drivers will be accustomed to driving in the rain. The wet and slick conditions on the roadways will make stopping your car more difficult. Drive with that in mind, and maintain a safe distance from other vehicles.
On slick surfaces, stay away from utilizing cruise control because the automated acceleration can result in a loss of control after the tires regain traction after hydroplaning on puddles.
Visibility
The golden rule of maintaining a three-second separation from the vehicle in front should be increased to five seconds in bad visibility to provide enough time for braking in an emergency.
Fog lights should be switched on in both the front and rear, but not the warning lights, and headlights should be set to a low beam.
Road users who are more susceptible, such motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians, should be given extra caution and greater room. Avoid using hazard lights in severe weather unless you have reached a standstill and need assistance. Save them for emergencies only. Rear fog lights should only be used when visibility is low because they can be distracting and dazzle oncoming traffic. Avoid wadis, lakes, and low-lying territory where floodwater may collect, such as underpasses, as well as regions where flooding is expected to occur.
Tips for Driving in Sandstorms
Before leaving the house, check that your headlights are functioning properly. When driving in dusty conditions, slow down when changing lanes. If the air becomes dusty while you’re driving, close your windows right away and put on the air conditioning.
Avoid using your danger lights while driving, as this sends the wrong message to the driver in front of you. When you quit, you may use them without any problems. Second, avoid places like elevated terrain or those that are close to the ocean, which are typically more influenced by bad weather. If feasible, try to avoid driving in poor conditions altogether and leave sooner.
