What to Do When Encountering Hail While Driving?
2 Answers
Methods to protect your car during hail are as follows: 1. Find a parking shed or underground parking lot: If you encounter hail, drive to an underground parking lot as quickly as possible. 2. Park under eaves: If there are no underground parking lots or parking sheds nearby, try to find a spot under eaves to park. 3. Purchase a hail protection cover online: If the area you are in frequently experiences hail or other unusual weather, it is recommended to buy a car cover designed for hail weather. Once inflated, it acts like a cushion layer on the car body, making hail hitting the car feel like raindrops on the body, effectively ensuring the car's safety. 4. Use a quilt: If you have no other preparations and the car is parked in the open with nowhere else to go, try covering the roof and windows with a quilt. 5. Do not park the car under trees: At first glance, parking under a tree might temporarily protect the car from being hit, but when too much hail accumulates on the tree, branches may break under the weight, causing branches and hail to severely damage the car. In serious cases, it could even affect the safety of people inside the car.
I find driving in hail really scary, but after experiencing it a few times, I've learned that the first reaction must be quick: immediately slow down and find a place to take cover, such as under a bridge, in a parking lot, or a covered service area. After parking, close all windows tightly, lock the doors, and avoid moving around inside the car or attempting to drive, as hail can shatter glass and cause injuries. Afterwards, check the roof and windshield for dents or cracks; if there's damage, take photos for evidence and contact your insurance company to file a claim. Also, remember to check the weather forecast before setting off to avoid traveling in severe weather. Last time, I stopped at a roadside shop and waited for half an hour—my car wasn’t badly damaged, but the lesson was to make a habit of listening to traffic broadcasts.
