Driving in Bad Weather | Steer Clear | State Farm® 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 

(Text on Screen)
Driving in Bad Weather

(Image)
A side view of an animated red car is shown 
driving down a road. The weather is nice in 
the background then rain begins to fall.  

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Just like driving at night, visibility is greatly 
reduced when driving in weather that's not 
ideal. First, let's take a look at driving in the 
rain. Most people drive the same in every 
weather condition subconsciously out of habit. 

(Image)
An illustration of “thinking” gears appears in the sky, 
as well as an eye and a steering wheel with 
9 and 3 hand positions highlighted.

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
When it's raining, you'll need to adjust your thinking, 
stay alert, and focused on what's going on around you.  
 
(Image)
Animated vehicle turns on headlights and continues 
driving. An illustration of windshield wipers appears 
in the sky while the car continues to drive. 

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Turn on those headlights. It's the law in all 
states to turn on headlights when visibility is low. 
And many states require having the headlights 
on when the windshield wipers are in use. 

(Image)
Animated vehicle turns on tail lights and 
continues to drive. 
 
(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Make sure your tail lights are also on, which 
sometimes isn't the case with your daytime 
running lights.  
 
(Image)
The angle of the red vehicle changes to 
head on. A “Slippery When Wet” road sign is
posted off to the side of the road, and the car is 
shown hydroplaning to the left and right on 
a wet slippery road. Rain continues to fall.
 
(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Beware of hydroplaning. That's the technical 
term for what occurs when your tires are getting 
more traction on the layer of water on the road 
than on the road itself. This results in your car 
sliding uncontrollably. It's easy enough to hydroplane. 

(Image)
A ruler appears next to the vehicle illustration, 
showing 1/12 inch rain and >35 M.P.H.
 
(Speaker: Male Announcer)
All you need is 1/12 of an inch of rain 
on the road and a speed of more than 
35 miles per hour.  
 
(Image)
An animation of a foot pressing on the brake 
pedal appear in the sky above the vehicle. 
The foot lets off the accelerator. An illustration 
of the steering wheel appears again, 
also marked with the 9 and 3 hand positions. 
 
(Speaker: Male Announcer)
If you start to hydroplane, let off the accelerator 
slowly and steer straight until you regain control. 
Hydroplaning can also happen on roads that are 
rutted from wear where low areas frequently 
hold water.  
 
(Text on Screen)
Rain

(Image)
An illustrated interior image of the vehicle is shown. 
Rain continues to fall and the windshield wipers 
on the vehicle are on.  An illustration of an 
odometer is seen in the sky. Illustration of the foot 
on the brake appears again, showing the foot 
left off the pedal. 

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Rain - in rainy conditions, turn off cruise control. 
Ironically, on rain or snow slick surfaces, cruise 
control may cause you to lose control. You might 
think it'll help you stay at one steady speed. 
But if you hydroplane while you're in cruise 
control, your car will go faster. 

(Text on Screen)
Speed = 1/3 of all crashes

(Image)
Animated car continues to drive down the road. 
A speed limit sign is off to the side. A yellow car 
passes the red car, while rain continues to 
come down. 

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Slow down. Speed is a factor in about a third 
of all vehicle crashes. And maintaining a safe 
speed is critical when it's raining. Speed limit 
signs are designed for ideal conditions, and 
that's hardly the environment you're driving in 
when it's raining. Let up on the accelerator and 
allow more time to get to your destination. 

(Image)
Red car pulls off to the side of the road 
as the rain continues to fall. Red car turns 
on hazard lights. 

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
In extremely heavy rain, pull over to a safe 
place to park, stop, and wait it out. Use your 
hazard lights when parked so other cars can see.  
 
(Image)
Animated red vehicle turns on low beams 
and drives through the fog. An illustration of the 
headlights appears in the sky above the vehicle.

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Fog-- in foggy conditions, turn on the low beams. 
Day or night, headlights should be on and set to 
low beam. Avoid using your high beams 
in fog, because it will decrease your visibility.

(Image)
Animated red vehicle passes another 
animated vehicle on a 2-lane road. A third car 
comes over the hill and honks.

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
With this in mind, trying to pass another vehicle, 
especially on two-lane roadways, could prove fatal.  
 
(Image)
Animated car is driving behind another vehicle. 
You see the car back off and give the yellow 
vehicle space. Scene outside the window 
shows very low visibility due to the fog.

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Drive slowly and leave an extra space cushion. 
And in extremely foggy conditions, avoid
driving altogether. 

(Image)
Illustration of front and rear defoggers 
and A/C cycling through car. 

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
If your windows get fogged, turn on your 
front and rear defoggers and the air 
conditioner to clear it up quickly. 

(Text on Screen)
Snow

(Image)
Illustrated vehicle is covered in snow. 
As the announcer talks about clearing 
the car off, snow falls off the vehicle. 
 
(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Snow-- in snowy conditions, clean off the roof, 
all windows, mirrors, and lights on your vehicle 
before you start your trip. This will avoid 
ice flying off the car, which could pose a 
potential hazard to other drivers. 

(Image)
Animated red car follows a semi on the 
road. Snow falls off the semi and into the road. 
The red cars comes to an immediate stop.

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Be cautious of debris flying around, 
especially from the roof of large vehicles.  
 
(Image)
Animated red car drives over a bridge. 
A sign on the side of the road warns of 
ICE on the road. 

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Be wary of bridges and roads 
that ice over quickly. 

(Image)
The red car tries to drive up an icy hill. 
An illustration of the gear settings appears 
in the sky above the car. Gear shifts to D1 
and D2 as the car tries to drive up the hill. 

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
If you get caught on an icy hill, try using 
your car's first or second gear. These 
gears are generally labeled D1 or D2 
on an automatic vehicle. 

(Image)
Red car stops on road and the lift gate opens. 
An emergency kit is pulled out from the vehicle.
Illustrations of a water bottle, protein bars and 
a flashlight are shown. Items are placed inside 
the box, then additional items are shown that 
drivers may want, including an ice scraper 
and a fan.  
 
(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Pack and store an emergency kit in your 
trunk or cargo area with items you could 
use in the event of a roadside situation. Include 
items like water, protein bars, and a flashlight. 
Tailor it to the weather in your area. Maybe 
you'll never need an ice scraper or a battery-powered 
fan. Add or subtract items from the list that 
you know you'll need where you're traveling.  
 
(Image)
Red car continues to drive on road. Weather 
starts out as sunny then switches to rain, 
before going back to sunny weather. 

(Speaker: Male Announcer)
Although these tips will help you navigate 
the storms, the safest advice is to avoid 
driving in bad weather conditions. People 
will understand. And nothing is more important
than your safety.