Rain is blamed for thousands of accidents yearly. Many of these accidents are preventable, but are caused by careless drivers who don’t realize the severity of the weather.
When the road is wet, the water on the asphalt causes tires to lose traction. Since the rain reduces a driver’s perception it’s harder to see through the rain and cuts visibility through its action on headlights, windshields and the road itself. Although many people know to slow down in the rain, there are other important tips that will help keep you, and those who occupy the road with you, from becoming a statistic.
· Use extreme caution after a dry spell: During a dry period, engine oil and grease accumulate on the road over time. When combined with water from a new rainfall, the road becomes very slick. Continuous rainfall will ultimately wash away the oil, but the first few hours are the most dangerous.
· Brake early with less force: This will increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also lets the car behind know that you’re slowing down. Moreover, be more careful when using turn signals, so the other drivers know your plans, and take turns and curves with a reduced speed than you would in normal conditions.
· Give yourself more time to travel: Make sure to drive slower than normal when the roads are wet. Also, traffic is likely to be moving slower as well.
· Don’t use cruise control: If you hydroplane, there’s a higher chance your car could accelerate. Cruise control also permits drivers to be less attentive and to take their foot away from the pedals.
· After crossing a puddle, tap on your brake pedal lightly to dry off the water on your rotors.
· Defog your windows: Your windshields will fog up quickly from the rain. Turn on both front and rear defrosters and make sure the air conditioning is turned on. Today most cars have climate control systems that automatically engage the A/C when the windshield defrost function is chosen.
