After a fairly dry summer, it would be normal for us to experience an autumn with a good deal of wet weather. Unlike snow, rain won’t cause work and school to close but driving in intense rain can be just as dangerous.
Not only can the rain make it difficult to navigate your vehicle, but a severe thunderstorm can cause small stream flooding in just one hour. Here are some tips provided by AAA to drive safely in wet weather:
- Slow down and create more distance between yourself and the car in front of you. With as little as 1 1/2 inches of water on the road, cars have to move a gallon of water per second to keep tires in contact with the road. Driving too fast could cause you to hydroplane.
- If you can’t see the road or line markings, don’t attempt to drive through the water. It doesn’t take much for your car to get stuck or to even get pulled away with the water.
- If you start to skid, avoid slamming on the brakes as this will only throw off the car’s balance. Instead, continue to look and steer in the direction you want the car to go.
- Never use cruise control in wet weather. You will need to slow down and accelerate periodically, which you can’t do in cruise control. Also, wet weather driving deserves your full attention.
Keep in mind that the best wet weather driving tips involve preventative action before ever starting the car. You’ll need to ensure your headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals are all in great working condition. Also, check the condition of your windshield wipers and tires.
For more information, check out this article from AAA.