INDIANAPOLIS --- Last week's deadly tornadoes that swept through Alabama, Georgia and Missouri served as tragic reminders that severe weather can strike at any time. As part of Indiana Severe Weather Preparedness Week, the Indiana Department of Transportation has issued some tips for drivers on how to cope with dangerous weather conditions. When driving in high winds: ** Be aware of vehicles around you, especially high-profile vehicles like trucks, buses and recreational vehicles. ** Reduce your speed and correct your steering, especially when moving from a protected area to an unprotected area. ** Wind and rain often go hand-in-hand. Stay alert for slippery areas. When driving in tornadoes: ** Do not drive in tornado conditions. ** Never try to out-drive a tornado. Tornadoes change direction quickly and can lift a car or truck and toss it through the air. ** Get out of your vehicle immediately and seek shelter in a nearby building. ** If there is no time to get indoors, get out of the car and into a ditch or low-lying area. When driving in severe thunder storms: ** Turn on your headlights, slow down and allow extra distance for braking. ** If conditions become unsafe, pull safely onto the shoulder of the road away from any trees that could fall on a vehicle, and turn on your emergency flashers. ** Stay in your car and avoid contact with metal surfaces. An automobile provides protection against lightning strikes and downed power lines. ** Approach intersections with caution, and treat blinking and malfunctioning traffic lights as stop signs. When driving in flooding: ** Never drive through water if the road is not visible. ** Never drive on a road that is closed because of flooding --- it's closed for your protection.