When driving, if you suddenly encounter a sandstorm, you should determine the precautionary measures based on the intensity of the sandstorm, wind direction, and current traffic conditions.
1. Turn on the width indicator lights, fog lights, and tail lights
When driving in sandy weather, you should turn on the width indicator lights, fog lights, tail lights, reduce speed, and honk frequently to warn vehicles around you. On urban and suburban roads, try to drive close to the center of the road, especially for some small cars, minimize lane changes to prevent being blown off the road by strong winds.
When the sandstorm is very strong, pay attention to how the wind direction and force affect your driving. When the wind is in the same direction as the car, due to the wind's influence, the braking distance will be relatively longer, and the unsafe braking area will increase; when the wind is opposite to the car, it will hinder the car's speed and affect overtaking or meeting other vehicles; when the wind acts laterally on the vehicle, it may cause an increased turning radius or centrifugal force, making it easy for the vehicle to skid sideways or overturn. Therefore, drivers must always pay attention to how changes in driving direction alter the wind's impact on the vehicle and take corresponding preventive measures at all times.
2. Reduce speed and pay attention to pedestrian movements
During the driving process, keep the windows closed tightly to prevent dust from entering the car and affecting the driver’s operation. If the sandstorm is particularly severe, park the car on the upwind side of the road with the front facing away from the wind.
Additionally, during violent storms, sand and debris often fly around. Pedestrians, seeking shelter from the wind, only focus on running and forget about safety. In such cases, reduce speed and carefully observe pedestrian movements. On dusty roads, note that pedestrians may rush into the wind to avoid dust, so appropriately reduce speed and try to minimize raising dust.
3. Don't compete with large trucks
In windy and sandy weather, road visibility is very low, only 70 to 100 meters, similar to foggy weather. Besides using fog lights and reducing speed, drivers should also avoid large trucks.
When smaller cars overtake moving container trucks, they should be particularly cautious of the lateral wind generated by large trucks' movement. Drivers should firmly grasp the steering wheel, appropriately increase overtaking distance, enter the overtaking lane early, confirm safety before overtaking; when the body is affected by lateral wind, the driver can slightly adjust the steering wheel to correct the car's forward direction and overcome the effect of lateral wind. Do not sharply return the wheel to avoid accidents.
4. Use the air conditioning in internal circulation mode
The external circulation mode of the car's air conditioning system draws air from outside and cools or heats it through the compressor or heater core before blowing it into the car via the blower. Most vehicles have a dust filter at the air inlet to purify the air entering the car, which is essentially an air dust filter.
Under normal circumstances, the dust content in the air is not high, and using the external circulation mode can make the air inside the car fresher. However, in sandy weather, if the external circulation mode is used, a large amount of dust accumulates at the dust filter, potentially damaging the dust filter or causing poor filtration. Therefore, in sandy weather, the internal circulation system must be used.
5. Park away from balconies and billboards
In sandy weather, the wind is strong, and buildings and outdoor advertisements often collapse. Vehicle damage caused by falling objects is not covered by insurance claims. It is recommended that owners intentionally avoid risks when parking, staying away from buildings, advertisements, and dead trees. If there is no place to park, try to stay away from balconies and windows to prevent items from falling and damaging the car. Moreover, in urban streets and between two buildings, the wind speed increases significantly, similar to mountain passes. Therefore, when crossing between tall buildings or narrow passages, extra caution is required.
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