Driving in the rain can be difficult, especially in Southern California. We don’t see very much rain here, so when it does rain, it’s something we aren’t used to. Because of this, many people make poor decisions. Follow these steps to drive safely in the rain.
Check Your Tire Tread
Before the rainy season begins, it’s important to check the tread on your tires. If your tires are worn, they provide much less traction on wet roads than newer tires. Look at them yourself or have them checked out by your mechanic or a tire shop to see if they need to be replaced.
Eliminate Distractions
When driving in the rain, be sure to eliminate anything that might distract you. This includes anything that would take your eyes off the road or take one of your hands off of the steering wheel. In fact, new research has shown that hands-free voice commands can still be extremely distracting, so avoid that as well.
Slow Down
Wet roads can make it more difficult to maintain traction. Slowing down will allow you to maintain better control of your vehicle. In addition, there are many other people who will already be driving slower because of the rain. Slowing down yourself will help you navigate traffic easier.
Keep Your Distance
Since the road is more slippery, you need to give more distance between you and the car in front of you than you normally would. If they stop quickly, this will give you more opportunity to stop before hitting them.
Avoid Standing Water
Even a small amount of water can cause your car to hydroplane. Because of this, it’s important to safely avoid any standing water on the road. This is especially true on freeways. Driving at high speeds can increase the chances of hydroplaning. However, hydroplaning can occur even at lower speeds.
Doing everything you can to keep yourself safe will reduce your chances of getting into an accident while driving in the rain. Because you can’t control how other people drive, it’s impossible to eliminate the chances of getting into an accident. However, following these steps can help keep you, your passengers, and other drivers safer on the road.
If you have been injured in an accident and have questions about what to do next, please contact us or give us a call at 800-676-5295.
