How to keep your windshield safe during a hail storm
Hail is not a joke. Hard lumps of ice falling from the sky will hurt, a fact anybody who got hit with a big chunk of hail can tell you. And what can make it even worse is hail breaking your car windshield when you’re driving. The actual shock of the windshield breaking, along with all the glass that’s now all over your car, and finally the actual hail that is coming through… All this is a recipe for a disaster, a car crash waiting to happen.
Hailstorms are a serious threat to drivers everywhere. For this reason, we have taken the liberty of writing up a short article about what to do to keep your windshield safe during a hail storm
Try to avoid it
The first and perhaps most obvious answer – try to not drive. We know, we know, horrible advice. Some people simply don’t have the luxury of not driving, their jobs and their education depends on it. Still, if you can, go with public transport. Either take the bus or maybe take a taxi.
Try to avoid hails storms at all possible costs. If you have to drive, take a route that is covered by trees or overpasses, anything to minimize the damage that is being done to your windshield. Furthermore, if you have to drive and to park, then think about where you are going to do so. Namely, avoid open parking lots. Try to find some cover, like a tree, or perhaps a parking lot with proper covering.
Remember, driving like this can be dangerous, both to yourself, and to others.
Listen to the weather reports
Many people make mistakes when driving during the winter, and you need to be careful to the most you can to avoid this. Losing control when driving is bad enough. Losing control in the middle of a hail storm can be a very serious issue, especially if your windshield breaks.
SO, listen to the weather forecast, keep your phone weather alerts on. If you pretty much know that a hail storm is about to occur, then pay more attention to traffic. Try to get out of it as soon as possible, but don’t panic, and don’t break the speed limit or any rules. Try to avoid traffic jams – going with a longer route can actually buy you more time.
Plan ahead
Before you actually start looking for a good windscreen replacement , try to prepare in advance. If you noticed that weather reports are predicting hail storms coming soon, then you should think about a couple of things. Namely, figure out if you have to actually take your car to work today. If you do, then think about escape routes, nearby cover, and anything else that can save your car at the last minute from serious hail damage.
If you live in an area where hail storms occur regularly you should probably have some towels, blankets, or even a rug in your trunk. Essentially, these are useful when you simply don’t have anywhere to hide and have no choice but to cover your car and hope for the best. It’s up to you to decide how much stuff you are willing to carry with you and that can actually help.
Know in advance where to hide
Knowing how to handle yourself when driving in bad weather can save your windshield (and you from a car accident). If you get stuck on the road in a hail storm, knowing how to take cover, and where, can make a world of difference.
So, if you’re stuck on the road, try to get under an overpass. Some other good places to hide out are gas stations, as well as banks. Know, as both gas stations, and banks are concerned, you probably need to be a customer in order to just park there. For the gas station, just tank up. As far as the bank is concerned, forget about the dirty looks you get, and pay a ticket if you have to – it’s still gonna be cheaper than fixing up your car. Parking garages are a godsend as well.
Conclusion
One of the most dangerous things that can happen in traffic is your windshield breaking due to a hail storm. Not only do you have damage you have to pay for now, but you can actually get hurt. For this reason, plan ahead. If you live in an area where hail storms happen, watch weather reports regularly. Figure out where to hide if you get caught in one, and if possible, try to avoid them.
