Driving in wind can be very dangerous. This is especially so if you drive a high-sided vehicle and are driving at speed in exposed places, such as motorways. The key to safe driving in wind is to consider:


Is your journey essential
– Think about if your journey is really essential. If it is then proceed with caution and plan, specifically looking at the following elements….


Know the weather forecast and traffic situation– Check for any weather warnings along your route. Some areas will be worse than others. You can check for traffic alerts on highways.gov.uk website and also the metoffice.gov.uk for weather related advice.

Watch your speed
– Avoid driving too fast. On the motorway during very high winds and gales drop your speed accordingly. A gust of wind will have less impact on a vehicle the slower it’s traveling.

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Keep an eye on high-sided vehicles– They have a habit of being blown over! Also understand then when you pass a high-sided vehicle, you can be sheltered from the wind. This can mean when you finally fully pass the vehicle, you can experience a gust of wind as the protection of the high-sided vehicle is no longer there. Guard against this by anticipating, and ensure you have a firm grip on the steering wheel. At times be prepared to weight your steering towards the wind slightly, if you find the wind is blowing your vehicle slightly off-course.


Watch for debris and other vehicles
– Watch out for other vehicles that maybe are travelling too fast, or maybe need to avoid debris in their path…Also watch out for debris such as tree branches. You should be traveling at a speed, which will allow you to stop in the distance you can see to be clear.