Tips on Identifying Bad Weather Drivers

‘Tis the season for Christmas trees and those who joyfully haul them across town with nothing but a fraying string wrapped around their car..! A freshly-cut evergreen strapped to the roof, excited children screaming Christmas carols in the back seat…What a perfect time to drive a vehicle, wouldn’t you say? And this is the best-case scenario, as we’re assuming the tree doesn’t fall off the car mid-drive! Anyone else cringing at the thought of this?

We all love what this time of year does to our nerves, don’t we? The traffic, the unpredictable weather, the never-ending to-do list! How does all this holiday bliss affect the driver stuck behind the only car going under the speed limit? For some, it means they become something of a daredevil and try to propel their 4-cylinder car ahead of the slowpoke in front the moment they see the broken middle line.

These drivers take the stress of the roadways to the max! We’ve all been there–trying to get to grandma’s house for the family dinner before she realizes we’re late. We’d do almost anything to avoid disappointing nana, but risk the lives of other people by speeding and swerving through traffic? Nah!

Ah yes, that moment of panic when this driver realizes they’ve forgotten the famous fruitcake (that no one wants, but the holidays aren’t complete without). The panic has temporarily clouded their awareness that they’re operating a motor vehicle and their ability to function fails, suddenly stopping the car…usually in an abrupt, unsafe manner, way too close to the moving traffic. For goodness (and humanity’s) sake, make a list and check it twice before you leave the house!

Ever wonder what it’s like to spin out of control with no way of stopping your vehicle? Simply watch a car attempting to drive on ice and you’ll see firsthand.

These situations can quickly turn dangerous for all drivers involved. While no driver can control the icy conditions, you can check the weather to see if there’s a chance for black ice on your drive and plan accordingly.

This is the driver that’s having a little too much fun this holiday season and is whipping around town on their merry way! In areas with winding roads, their excitement can get the better of them and, if they’re not careful, those fun curves can turn into spin-outs!

You don’t want to be the vehicle behind the driver that asks, “Did I take that corner too fast?”. Take note of vehicles that are driving too quickly or sporadically, as they’re likely to underestimate their speed and whip around a corner a little too fast.

The holiday season brings with it many great things, including serious deals and abundant generosity. Many drivers will find themselves in the driver’s seat of a brand new car this year. They will likely want to take their new ride out for a spin, open it up, and see what it can really do.

…Not that we can blame them. We get it, they want to show off their new toy to mom (or their friends). Let’s just hope no one is around them when they do!

The holiday shopping rush has been in full swing since Black Friday. With every day that passes the intensity increases as bargain-hunters grow more and more desperate and ruthless. Keep an eye out for big holiday sales or shopping areas during their peak hours to avoid getting caught up in a car-cattle drive. No one likes mall traffic!

Perhaps this driver was on auto-pilot coming home from the office. Perhaps they are visiting for the holidays and aren’t familiar with the roads. Either way, they just missed their exit. And, unfortunately, they won’t just drive to the next exit and make their way back like we were all taught to do in driver’s ed. They’ll instead panic and make every attempt to not miss that exit ramp. Because what’s the worst that could happen if they suddenly swerve across three lanes of traffic? Certainly nothing worse than missing their exit!