A dust storm can cause dangerous driving conditions in a matter of few minutes and can result in deadly collisions on the road. Dust storms hit the UAE quite often in the months of summer and motorists should always be prepared for it. Motorists should try to avoid driving when a dust storm is in the forecast so that they don’t have to deal with the dangerous driving conditions. On the other hand, if you are hit by a dust storm while driving, a cautious approach can help you avoid any adverse situation on the road. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) has issued a dust storm alert and advised motorists to drive carefully in low visibility conditions caused by blowing dust and dirt.
Also read: Tips to Drive Safely in a Sandstorm
How to Survive a Dust Storm Safely While Driving?
As a dust storm can hit you anytime in summer, it is better to remain prepared in order to avoid dangerous road situations created by the storm. Motorists need to make some adjustments and follow the safety protocols for driving in a dust storm situation.
Here is what you need to do while driving in a dust storm:
Don’t Panic – Panicked driving can result in poor decision making and can potentially cause a dangerous road accident. You need to realize that everyone on road will be watchful of the dust storm so you just need to remain calm and keep driving at a slow speed without making any abrupt lane change. Visibility on the road can reduce considerably in a dust storm so it is extremely important to remain calm and maintain speeds according to the visibility on the road.
Take Your Vehicle Off the Highway When Possible – If you get a chance to identify a dust storm on the horizon before it approaches you, make a quick move and take your vehicle off the highway. If you can’t find a suitable side of the road to pull over in time, keep driving at a slow speed and try to find a safe exit to take the vehicle off the highway.
Turn off your Car’s Lights after Pulling Over – Once you have taken your car off the main road or highway, turn off all the lights of your car so that other vehicles don’t follow you and hit your parked vehicle by mistake.
Listen to the Radio – You should tune into a radio station that is giving updates about the dust storm and informing the motorists when the dust storm will stop. This can help you to wait patiently for the dust storm to end completely.
Get Back on the Road When Visibility is Maximum – Once the dust storm is finished, you should only get back on the main road when the visibility is at least 300 feet. Heavy rain can often follow a dust storm so beware of that and keep driving at moderate speeds.
Be Considerate – If you are facing difficulties in driving then other motorists will be facing the same difficulties. So, it is important to be considerate of others motorists during a dust storm.
Keep Your Vehicles Well-maintained to Survive Extreme Driving Conditions
Only a well-maintained vehicle can withstand the extreme weather conditions like dust storm, sand storm, excessive heat, fog and heavy rain in the UAE. The mechanical parts and all important car fluids should be checked and maintained regularly for consistency in a vehicle’s performance. It can be ideal to get a vehicle checked for detailed maintenance before the start of every season, but the vehicle maintenance can also be scheduled according to the instructions mentioned in the car’s owner manual. Driving a vehicle that is properly maintained and following safe driving habits can reduce the chance of a dangerous road incident to a bare minimum regardless of the driving conditions.
Once you have driven through a dust storm, it is extremely important to take your car to a service station and get it checked. For example, the air filter should always be cleaned immediately after a vehicle has been driven through a dust or sand storm.
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Updated on 24/07/2019
