Iowa · Handbook chapter 10 · 4 min read

Chapter 10: Weather, emergencies and crashes

Driving in rain, fog, floods, tornadoes, ice and snow, sharing the road with snowplows, handling flat tires, brake failure, a stuck gas pedal and other breakdowns, what to do after an Iowa crash, and traffic stops.

Why this chapter matters

Iowa weather changes fast, from flash floods and tornadoes to black ice. Knowing what to do before it happens, and what to do after a crash, can save your life and your license.

Before you go

Check 511ia.org or the Iowa 511 app for road conditions. In bad weather, slow down, increase your following distance and never use cruise control. Keep an emergency kit in the car, especially in winter.

Rain and wet roads

• Turn on your wipers as soon as the windshield is wet, and turn on your low beams.
• Drive slower and increase your following distance to five or six seconds. Take extra care on curves and at intersections.
• Hydroplaning happens when water is deeper than your tire tread. Watch for deep water, reflections, or a car ahead that leaves no tracks, and slow down.

Floods

• Almost half of flash flood deaths happen in vehicles. As little as 6 inches of moving water can sweep away a car, SUV or pickup.
• Never drive through a flooded road or bridge: turn around and find another way.
• If you stall in floodwater, leave the vehicle and get to higher ground. If the car sinks, stay calm, let it fill with water so the doors open more easily, then hold your breath and swim up.

Fog

Use low beams or fog lights, never high beams, which reflect back at you. Slow down until you can stop within the distance you can see, and pull off to a safe place if you need to.

Tornadoes

• A watch means a tornado is possible. A warning means one is imminent: seek shelter now.
• If driving, get to a sturdy building. If you cannot, pull over, stay belted, duck below the windows and cover your head, or lie in a low ditch covering your head. Stay away from bridges and overpasses.

Ice and snow

• Clear snow and ice from the entire vehicle, including lights.
• Black ice is hard to see and forms first on bridges and overpasses, where cold air flows above and below the deck.
• Start with wheels straight and accelerate gently. Slow down early and brake in a straight line. Stopping distances can be 10 times longer on ice and snow.
• Snowplows usually travel 25 to 35 mph. Stay back, never pass on the shoulder side, and leave plenty of room, since the blade may stick out beyond the truck.
• If stranded, pull onto the shoulder, call 911, and stay in your vehicle with your seat belt on.

Equipment failures

• Flat tire or blowout: hold the wheel firmly, keep straight, ease off the gas and brake gently, then pull off. A front blowout pulls hard toward the flat side; do not overcorrect.
• Stuck gas pedal: keep your eyes on the road, shift to neutral, pull off the road and turn off the engine after you stop.
• Brake failure: pump the brake pedal; if that fails, apply the parking brake slowly; then shift to lower gears and find a safe place to stop.
• Headlights fail: try the switch and the high beams, then use hazard lights, turn signals or fog lights and pull off.
• Engine stalls: grip the wheel firmly (steering gets heavy) and pull off; the brakes still work but need a hard push.
• Never remove the key while moving: the steering lock may engage.

After a crash

1. Steer It-Clear It: if you can, move the vehicle out of traffic, turn it off and make sure it cannot roll.
2. Call 911 with details of injuries and location. You must report a crash involving injury or death, or property damage over $1,500, within 72 hours, or you lose your driving privileges.
3. Give the officer your insurance information, registration and driver's license.
4. Report to your insurance company.

Traffic stops

Pull over to a safe, clear spot, not in a travel lane. Turn off the vehicle, keep your hands visible, ideally on the wheel, stay calm and follow instructions. Drivers with autism or who are deaf or hard of hearing can ask for an indicator on their license.