We all know that, if we look outside and see pellets of hail coming down, it is too dangerous to attempt driving. The universal truth is that you should not drive in the hail if you do not have to. It can feel frustrating to be late or miss something important, but hail is entirely too dangerous to drive in on purpose.
However, there are contexts in which people become caught in a hailstorm, possibly on these windy mountain roads here in Colorado, and the options are limited. In this case, the question becomes "how to stop driving in the hail safely" instead of just avoiding it entirely. Here is what to do if you find yourself caught in your car during an unexpected hailstorm.
Tips on Maintaining Safety While Driving in the Hail
1. Stay inside: No matter how tempting it is to get out of your car and into a building, the danger of large hail arriving while you are outside is too great. Stay in your car until the hail passes, even if it is loud and frightening.
2. Scan for protection: Using your low beam lights and slow driving, take inventory of your nearby surroundings. Is there any protection you can garner by pulling up beside a building or under an awning? Don't drive far, but quickly assess the easiest and best way out of the roadway, since the roads will become more dangerous with more hail.
3. Give the windshield the brunt of it: Your windshield is the most protected part of the glass in your car, so if there is substantial wind with the hail, angle the windshield at the hail itself. It will probably not sound great, but it is better than hail cracking through other window glass.
4. Seek cover: Once you've safely parked your car, gather any jackets, blankets, or other coverings and cover yourself, in the case of glass breaking. Wait out the storm, since they are usually not particularly long.
5. Get dent repair help: Your local American Auto Hail Repair shop can help you remove the dents from your car's exterior using paintless dent repair. By getting dent repair quickly, you can file with insurance and get your car back to a strong and safe state. Contact the PDR experts today if you've recently had to drive in hail!