Techniques for Driving In the Rain
Driving in the rain isn’t fun, but sometimes it’s unavoidable.
We’ve already seen some rainy days this spring, and it’s important for all drivers to know how to safely maneuver their vehicle when spring’s rainy weather strikes.
First off, slow down. Slowing down when it’s raining is important to help reduce your car’s chance of hydroplaning (when the tires rise up on a film of water). Drivers should reduce their speed to correspond to the amount of water on the roadway. New tires can still lose contact with the roadway at speeds as low as 35 mph.
If you feel your car start to skid or hydroplane, try to remain calm. Your instinct will be to slam on the breaks, but it’s best to avoid the breaks if your vehicle starts to hydroplane. Slamming on the breaks will upset your vehicles balance, as well as make it harder to control. It also increases your chances of spinning or sliding out-of-control. Instead, let off the accelerator slowly and steer straight until you regain control.
Avoid using your cruise control. Most cars now have the cruise control feature, which is great in dry conditions. When it’s raining or wet, however, it’s best to keep the cruise control off, as it increases your chance of losing control of your vehicle. To prevent loss of traction, you might need to reduce your car’s speed by lifting off the accelerator. This action can’t be accomplished when the cruise control is on.
Increase your following distance. Give other vehicles and yourself plenty of room. If the car in front of your suddenly breaks, you will need that extra space in order to safely reduce your speed. Slick roads, wet brakes, and reduced visibility can lead to collisions. Give other vehicles plenty of room, and brake early with reduced force.
Here are a few other small things to keep in mind:
- If it is raining so hard that you can’t see out your windshield or your wipers can’t keep up, find a safe place to pull over. Put your hazards on, and wait out the downpour.
- Don’t drive through standing water if you don’t know how deep the water is. Standing water can cause your car to stall, and if there is a current in the water, your car could be swept away. It’s best to find an alternate route.
- Listen to a local radio station to remain up-to-date on what kind of weather you are driving into.
- Routinely check to make sure your wipers are working properly. If they aren’t, don’t waste time. Replace them immediately.
Have any other helpful tips? Let us know on our Twitter or Facebook page. Need an auto body professional? Call Great Plains Auto Body at 402.334.7100.
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photo credit: Rainy Color (iPhone quality) via photopin (license)
