Safe Driving During the Rainy Season

For some of us, driving in the rain can be downright scary. Not only may you experience limited visibility you may also risk skidding or hydroplaning. Driving in the rain at night can be even worse when you include the glare of headlights from oncoming cars - you can literally be driving while blind.

While driving during the rainy season, it’s best to stay relaxed yet vigilant while following these precautionary steps.

The Basics                                        

                                                                        

1. SLOW DOWN. Make sure you are driving at or below the speed limit. Why? Because at speed it only takes a ¼ of an inch of water to build up between the tire and the road surface to lift your tires off the pavement, and when that happens you are hydroplaning. And if it hasn’t rained in a while, then there is grease, oil and dirt on the road as well as water and you have what is then known as “super hydroplaning!” Which means that you will skid farther, faster and take a lot longer to slow down or stop than if it’s just water on the road surface.

2. Bear in mind that it is also more difficult to see and be seen under rainy conditions so TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS so that others see you. Motorcycles and darker colored cars are much more difficult to spot in road spray and if it happens to be dusk or dawn the darkness increases the camouflaging of them. Also, be especially wary of pedestrians and animals.

3. Maintain a distance of at least five-to-six car lengths between you and the vehicles you’re following. Remember that in the rain it is more difficult to slow down quickly so keeping a healthy following distance will lessen the likelihood of an accident.

                                                                  

4. If at all possible, avoid flooded roads, steep mountains, or dangerous curves. Never drive your car into free-standing or flowing water on a roadway. The water can stall the engine or, worse yet, can float your car. It only takes six inches of fast moving water to sweep it right off the road!

5. Put down the phone, stay alert and watch for brake lights in front of you. Always try to avoid situations where you have to brake suddenly, as that can throw the car into a skid. Be wary of trucks and buses. Follow large vehicles from a safe distance, the spray from their large tires can not only cause visual impairment but the additional water those big vehicles move from the roads surface can cause you to hydroplane right off the road if you’re driving alongside of them. Also larger vehicles, especially if they are heavily loaded, can’t stop as quickly as a car and could easily involve you in multi-car pile-up if you drive in their immediate vicinity during a hydroplaning situation.

6. Finally, if you are extremely tense or fearful of driving in such conditions, if possible, pull off the road and pull into a rest area or parking lot and wait out the storm. Also, never drive if you are fatigued, this is especially true in inclement weather as there is additional stress on the eyes and the nerves.

What to Do When Danger Looms

Should you find yourself in a skid, first off, don’t panic and don’t hold your breath. Yes, you read that right, do not hold your breath. If you hold your breath it causes your brain to fixate on the impending doom coming your way and you turn off your ability to react. Instead, calmly remove your foot from the accelerator pedal, use light brake pressure and look in the direction you want your vehicle to go… believe it or not, you will naturally steer into the direction you are looking without even thinking about it.

Now, hydroplaning can be very frightening because you are skidding on top of the water. To recover from hydroplaning, once again, simply remove your foot from the accelerator and look in the direction you want the vehicle to go. Do not apply any pressure to the brakes as that will only make your tires lock up and then you won’t have steering input.

Chances are that unless your going at a very high rate of speed, just reducing your speed by 4 or 5 mph the tires will regain contact with the pavement and you will once again have control of your vehicle.

Driving in the rain does not have to be a traumatic endeavor. Stay calm, take actions to minimize your risk by practicing safe and defensive driving, and remain in control of your car at all times. By following these basic safety guidelines you will be much more likely to get to your destination safely.