Hurricane Season is A-Brewin’

With hurricane season upon us and safety at the helm of all fleet operations, we’re here to provide some safety tips for your drivers in the case that they’re caught in a hurricane:

1. Avoid driving unless absolutely necessary: Even when a hurricane is impending, the winds are too strong to drive. When driving during a hurricane, your vehicle, regardless of size, is highly prone to being pushed, pulled, or flipped over by such strong winds. In fact, larger vehicles pose higher risks in the face of adverse weather. Unless you must relocate, don’t get on the road.
2. Go easy on the brakes: When hurricanes come passing through, so do slick road conditions. With that in mind, stay calm and brake gradually. If you brake suddenly and with a lot of force, you can lose control of your vehicle, which is especially risky due to the strong winds that may surround you.
3. Keep a safe distance from other vehicles: Even though you might be in a rush to get out of this extreme weather, the best way to keep you and other drivers safe is to drive slowly and keep a safe distance from other vehicles. That way, you can better avoid collisions during the hurricane.
4. Keep the radio on: You want to stay as informed as possible while out on the road during a hurricane. The storm’s direction/path, road closures, alternate routes and state-wide announcements are all critical pieces of information to know on your journey.
5. Have an eye out for knocked down power lines: Even though sparks might not be present, proceed with extreme caution when approaching downed power lines as they could still be electrified. Drive around them, and make sure to leave a generous space between as water can conduct electricity.
6. Pull over beside a large building: If you feel that the weather is too dangerous to drive in, pull over. If you decide to stay in your vehicle, make sure that you have a large structure next to you to protect you from the harsh winds.

Hopefully these tips can help your drivers weather whatever storms they might face down the road this season.

We know that disasters like hurricanes can be severely troubling and panic-inducing. If you’re ever caught in a natural or man-made disaster, you can call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990 any time of day, any day of the year.

Safe driving!