Started driving the day I turned 16 and just turned 53 but still cannot stand or get used to driving in windy weather, the kind where a strong gust hits your car and you feel like you're going to lose control or something.

Today was that day, it's been ridiculously windy the past few days and I caught a couple scary gusts and realized it's still something you never get used to.

Does anyone have any tips for dealing with this?

Do you drive a boxy vehicle like an SUV? All my cars are low profile. When it's windy, I only get a slight buffeting on a crosswind. Rolling down all your windows will help.

I agree, a higher profile vehicle would be the worst.

If needed you can hawk the weather forecast, stayed holed up if the wind is howling.

Just drive the minimal amount during this kind of weather. I don’t own or drive boxy vehicles (bricks). But we get more wind here, annually, than Chicago which they refer to as the Windy City. 20MPH + wind gusts can mean rock chips, busted windshields, etc so I just avoid it. Work, doctor, required stuff, sure, but anything else I just sit it out at home.

I get the drift in my Sienna van. It's best to back off the speed limit 5 or 10 miles per hour if it is hard hitting wind. Man this brings back memories of hauling a mere 5,000 pounds in a 53 foot trailer across Texas. Fact, several loads of Christmas bows and wrapping papers from your State PAsig. And then there was the Zerox stuff, light as a feather. Down to the Mexican border. I'd hang right on to the wheel as my trailer would be trying to near top over. I could see the lean and sway in my mirrors. Just slow her down a bit in the winds.

Stiffer antiroll bars and maybe stiffer shocks. The wind gusts are causing the body to move which changes the suspension loads on each wheel. Installing stiffer antiroll bars on my truck really settles it down while towing the 13’6” tall 38’ long 5th wheel.

Now that I think about it, I went with stiffer bar in the front, but add the rear bar as my truck didn’t come with one from stock.

I used to own a 1977 Toyota Corolla, it had a curb weight of 1750 pounds. On the highway with a stiff wind blowing at a 90 degree angle I would do what I called ‘The Dance of the Wild Crosswinds’, I would have to crab into the direction of the wind, holding the steering wheel over into the wind, sort of similar to cranking in rudder trim to compensate for asymmetric thrust in an airplane. If I passed or was passed by a semi I would have to be ready to quickly straighten the wheel when the wind force would be killed by the truck blocking it and then be ready to compensate again when the wind wasn’t blocked anymore. WHEE! FUN! Not.

It is even more fun in a strong crosswind while riding a motorcycle.

I have to cross the Mississipi river regularly, if the the wind is up, it'll be howling up or down river. The wind is constricted by high ground east and west so Bernoulli's Principle accelerates the wind and my bigger wheels, high Tacoma gets pounded left or right when on the bridge. Throw in too low (imo) guard rails, yeah, I'm playing mind games to get across.

I never thought about bridges before, enough bad trips under my belt, it's approaching phobia some times.

quote:

Been Driving 37 Years And Still Cannot Stand Driving In Very Windy Weather

Nobody can. You just have to deal with it, by avoidance if possible.

Sometimes you just stayed home until the winds quit I got my drivers license in 1962.

Sounds like you need a vette.....

I pulled fifty three foot trailers, tell me about it! It got fun sometimes.

Same old song ...

All we are is dust in the wind.

I drove OTR with dad for a little while.
1983 Superliner Mack and a 48’ spread axle float.
Bucking a headwind was hard on fuel mileage. But I’d gladly give up the fuel money to avoid a crosswind.

You think that's bad, try riding a motorcycle across the Mackinaw bridge in the rain.

The only tip I can offer is don't keep a death grip on the wheel or the bars. Relax, slow down and don't fight it.

quote:

Been Driving 37 Years And Still Cannot Stand Driving In Very Windy Weather

Not sure if any sane person can stand driving in very windy weather.

The worst I've done was hwy 385 from the OK border to I70 in CO en route to NE Denver area. December cold, high wind, tons of tumbleweeds.
Miles of pitch black driving with high winds. Wasn't really pushing us around [surprisng in the flying brick of our Expedition Max] must have been mostly a headwind I guess, just the roar of the wind had my ears ringing.

Drive through Livingston, MT sometime when the wind picks up. Overturned big rigs is a common occurrence.

I didn't realize the wind could affect cars while driving until I went from the low profile cars of my youth (ie - Nissan Z) to a family car sedan.

The first time I got hit w/ wind in a sedan, it moved the car (driving on the highway) and I almost peed my pants. I thought I lost all control and was gonna crash.

Now I drive on the slower side of the limit when there are high gusts.

As an aside: I once had tires that tracked the rain grooves on the highway. First time w/ that, I thought something was wrong w/ the car. That's also a very uneasy feeling.