Safety Driving Tips During a Rainy Day

Rainy days increase the potential for road accidents due to reduced visibility, wet roads, and other hazards. Here are ways to stay safer on the road in rainy conditions.

Understand and Avoid Hydroplaning

One of the biggest dangers of driving during rainy conditions is hydroplaning. Also called aquaplaning, this is when tires begin to skim across a layer of water on the pavement and lose the traction necessary to maintain control. If hydroplaning occurs with all tires at the same time, you will quickly notice a loss of control, but steering problems can develop even when only one or two tires hydroplane.

You can prevent hydroplaning by maintaining the right air pressure in your tires, replacing worn tires, reducing your speed in rainy weather and avoiding water in the road. If you do hydroplane, try not to panic. Ease your foot off the accelerator and, if you are skidding, steer gently in the direction of the skid until your vehicle regains traction, and then steer to correct your direction.

Use Your Headlights

Even if it is daytime and your feel you can see well enough to drive, to turn your headlights on is important in rainy conditions. This is primary because headlights make your vehicle more visible to other cars on the road.

Don’t Drive Closely to Other Vehicles

Rain can be distracting and reduces visibility and water on the road can reduce braking time. This makes it extra important to keep distance between your car and the vehicles ahead of you. In good weather, the rule of thumb is to stay back approximately five core lengths. In rainy conditions, use this as your minimum but try to increase this distance by another half-length or more. This way, if something happens ahead of you, you have greater chance of stopping in time to avoid a collision.

Avoid Getting Brakes Wet

Wet brakes can fail or have reduced efficiency and lead to collisions. Avoid driving through puddles or water standing in gutters. When approaching a stop sign or traffic light, slow your speed and test your brakes before arriving at the intersection.

Don’t Risk Driving Through High Water

Pay attention to any flood alerts in your area, and don’t try to drive through water flooding a road. It takes very little running water to lift a vehicle and carry it away because of tires’ buoyancy. Turn the car around and take a different route to your destination.

Remember to stay extra alert for other vehicles in rainy weather. Some drivers forget to turn their headlights on and might be difficult to see. Also, braking time is increased on wet roads and drivers might have more difficulty slowing down in time to avoid hitting you. Many accidents that occur during rain can be avoided if drivers practice greater caution and remain alert.

Source : Auto Insurance San Diego