What should you do when driving in adverse weather conditions?

When driving in adverse weather conditions, increasing your following distance and reducing your speed is crucial for maintaining safety. Adverse weather, such as rain, fog, or snow, can significantly affect visibility and road traction, making it harder to judge stopping distances and react to the actions of other drivers.

By increasing your following distance, you provide yourself with more time to react if the vehicle in front of you brakes suddenly. Reducing speed allows for better control of your vehicle and reduces the likelihood of skidding or losing traction. It is essential to adapt your driving behavior to the conditions around you to ensure not just your safety but also the safety of others on the road.

In contrast, maintaining your normal speed may lead to dangerous situations, such as hydroplaning or sliding on icy roads. Using high-beam headlights in fog or heavy rain can cause glare, making it harder for you and other drivers to see. Frequent lane changes can lead to instability and increase the risk of accidents, especially in poor weather conditions where visibility is reduced. Thus, the approach of increasing following distance and reducing speed is the most sensible and safe choice when driving in adverse weather.