Toyota safety tips for driving in a tornado

Bad weather is pretty much a way of life here in Central Florida during the summer months. If it's not scorching hot outside, then it's storming. Honestly, the afternoon squalls we see are just as intimidating as a tropical storm and with them bring the possibility of a tornado. Do you know how to react in this particular bad weather situation if you're behind the wheel? Check out these Toyota of Orlando tips on how to tackle driving in a tornado. 

Driving in a tornado: How to spot that one is coming 

The first thing to know about driving in a tornado is how to spot that one is about to happen. You should get warnings via your radio and your smartphone, but it's helpful to know how to tell if a tornado is imminent. Here are some surefire signs that you should take cover: 

• The sky is turning a dark yellow-green color 
• You feel an uneasy quiet or stillness all of a sudden in the middle of the storm - this is especially telling if you were just driving through hail or heavy rain and it stops all of a sudden 
• A loud roaring noise reminiscent of a vacuum cleaner or a train 
• You see debris falling around you or a cloud of debris in the distance at ground-level 
• You actually see a rotating funnel extending down out of a cloud

So what should you do if you do find yourself driving in a tornado? Check out these Orlando Toyota safety tips for this precarious situation. 

Three Orlando Toyota safety tips for driving in a tornado 

#1: Look for a way to get OFF the road. If you know you're about to be driving in a tornado, get OFF the road. Seek shelter in the nearest building; remember to head for an interior room and cover your head. Stay sheltered until the weather passes. 

#2: Try to find a low-lying area for shelter. If you're in an area where you can't shelter in a building, then you need to look for a low-lying area like a ditch or a ravine. Once you're there, get out of your car, lie down in the low-lying area, and cover your head and neck with your hands. You'll be more protected from the wind in a low-lying area than if you were to stay out in the storm. 

#3: Stay in your car. If you can't find shelter or a low-lying area, then your last resort should be to stay in your car. Put your seatbelt on, put the car in park, and pull the emergency brake. Try to hunch down so you're below the window line and cover your head and neck with your hands and anything soft you have in the car, like a blanket or jacket. Try to park away from trees and power lines to avoid anything falling on your vehicle. 

And remember, you should NEVER try to shelter under a bridge or in a tunnel while driving in a tornado. These actually become giant wind tunnels in this type of storm and you're going to experience extremely high winds in these spots, and you're still highly likely to be hit by debris. 

Have questions about driving in a tornado or need tips for driving in bad weather period? Call us! Toyota of Orlando is open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500. You can also visit us seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall.