Drivers have been urged to leave a certain car at home during Storm Darragh (Image: Getty)
Motorists who own a certain kind of car have been urged to leave it on the driveway as batters various parts of the country.
As the issued a rare for parts of , south-western England, and , various areas across the UK are currently experiencing high gusts of wind and heavy showers.
To help drivers stay safe during the storm, Graham Conway, managing director of , recommended that motorists avoid setting off in smaller cars.
He explained: “Drivers of high-sided vehicles like lorries, vans and buses have been warned about driving on exposed roads and coastal routes. But drivers in smaller passenger cars are not immune from the impacts of crosswinds either.
“Some experts have suggested that smaller, lighter cars – such as small hatchbacks and urban city cars – are at risk of severe motorway buffeting, particularly if they have a higher, more rounded shape which can expose them to sudden changes in wind direction and speed.”
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The expert warned that smaller, lighter models are less stable in high winds (Image: Getty)
While high-sided vehicles such as trucks and coaches are the worst affected when travelling in strong winds, city cars and superminis can also be susceptible to issues.
This is because they are typically lighter and shorter than most other cars on the road, therefore having a high centre of gravity.
Few cars are likely to topple over under normal driving conditions, however drivers using these vehicles could find that they are more difficult to control, drifting into other lanes or shaking.
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Drivers travelling during the storm were urged to maintain a steady speed and avoid taking risks (Image: Getty)
Graham suggested that motorists would be better behind the wheel of a car with a lower centre of gravity and stiffer suspension.
He continued: “It’s thought that a stiffer, lower suspension – such as you see with performance sports cars with a wider footprint – can help to mitigate crosswinds because they’re less prone to the ‘lean’ you might experience as the wind blows across you.
“With that in mind, some modern cars can control the suspension stiffness at the touch of a button, to aid body roll in corners. It might be an idea to turn on that setting when encountering strong crosswinds on motorways.”
Nevertheless, no matter the type of vehicle drivers wish to use during Storm Darragh, Graham urged all drivers to take care and only travel at steady speeds.
He advised: “If you find yourself accidentally drifting across lanes, you must slow down until you can control the vehicle safely.
“Be sure to give larger vehicles, such as lorries or buses, extra space too. They are more susceptible to wind and may sway into adjacent lanes. Similarly, avoid switching lanes often as the change in direction of the vehicle may make the car more susceptible to big gusts of wind.”