Toyota of North Charlotte

SPONSORED: Do you know how to handle driving in high winds?

Toyota safety tips

Summer is definitely full of sun, but it also has its fair share of thunderstorms (especially when hurricane season gets into full swing). When weather conditions are less than pleasant, do you know how to handle your car? Driving in bad weather leads to more accidents so it’s in your best interest to know how to handle it before you get behind the wheel - check out these tips from Toyota of N Charlotte for driving in high winds. 

Five tips for driving in high winds 

Tip #1: Go the speed limit or if you have to, slower. The speed limit exists to keep you safe when you’re out on the road, and it’s even more critical that you follow it when the weather isn’t great. Driving at the speed limit - or slower if you need to - can help you better control your car. It can also help you react more quickly should an emergency happen, like debris blowing into your N Charlotte Toyota’s path. 

Tip #2: Stay away from large vehicles like semis and cargo trucks. Bigger cars have more surface area, which means there’s more for the wind to catch and push. This means that vehicles like cargo trucks, dump trucks, semis, RVs, etc. have a higher potential of being blown into your lane. Avoid driving by larger vehicles when driving in high winds and when you pass them, be ready to react at a moment’s notice. 

Tip #3: Keep your hands on the wheel at all times. Make sure that when you’re driving in high winds, you keep your hands on the wheel. This means no texting, no reaching for things in the backseat, no fiddling with your A/C controls. If both hands are on the wheel, you have a much higher chance of being able to get out of the way should you need to react to a could-be car accident. 

Tip #4: Check the weather before you leave the house. It’s always a good idea to check the weather BEFORE you leave the house, especially if you have a long commute ahead of you. This can alert you to bad weather so if possible, you can delay your trip until conditions are better. If you can’t postpone, at least you’ll be prepared to navigate your N Charlotte Toyota through it. 

Tip #5: Remove anything hooked up to the exterior of your car. If you know you’re going to be driving in high winds, you can prep your car ahead of time. Remove anything on the exterior of it that could be caught and pulled off, as it could then become a projectile for other vehicles. This includes things like bike racks, luggage racks, any decorations you have on your N Charlotte Toyota, etc. - anything that the wind could catch. 

Toyota of N Charlotte can help get your car prepped for bad weather 

Want more tips or need a little help getting your N Charlotte Toyota prepped for summer? We’ve got you covered for everything from driving in high winds to heavy rain to intense sun - call Toyota of N Charlotte’s auto service center today at (704) 659-2025. We’re just off I-77 at exit 23!