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ToggleHow to stay safe when driving in the rain
Driving in the rain can be dangerous. You may not think much of it; however, one minor mishap while driving in the rain and suddenly you’ve collided with another vehicle or driven off the road into a roadside barrier. Trust us, we tow wrecked cars off of the roadsides all day long. Such an occurrence could cause injuries to you or any passengers and, most certainly, damage to your vehicle. It is never fun to call the police or exchanging insurance information while stuck in the rain.
Car accidents are an inconvenience at all times, but they are more likely to occur when the roads are wet and your vision is impaired due to rain. To stay safe while driving in the rain, please follow these four fundamental steps:
Do not use cruise control
There are a couple of reasons to avoid cruise control when driving in the rain. First of all, drivers are often less attentive when using cruise control. The vehicle is essentially set on autopilot and the driver may not even have his/her foot hovering over the brake or accelerator. This slows any needed reaction time in the event that the vehicle is thrown off track when running through a puddle of water and hydroplaning.
Speaking of hydroplaning, this prompts the next point. Hydroplaning causes a vehicle to speed up, as opposed to maintaining speed (what cruise control is supposed to do) through a puddle of water. A vehicle loses grip when running through water, as the water creates a separation from the road surface. To ensure optimal attentiveness and safety, remember not to use cruise control while driving in rainy conditions.
Ensure your windshield wipers are up for the task
Windshield wipers are what allow us to drive in the rain. Without them, a driver won’t make it very far before colliding with something when it is raining heavily. Every car has to have windshield wipers in order to pass state inspections. Owners are required not only to have them installed, but to also have wipers that function properly. So, this one is simple: make sure your windshield wipers can do the single job that they are supposed to—keep your vision intact while driving in the rain. From there, all you have to do is adjust the wiper speed based on the severity of rainfall.
Turn on headlights
Take advantage of another vehicle function by turning on your lights when it is raining. This enables improved vision to ensure you can see the vehicle in front of you, as well as the lane dividers.
Additionally, the drivers of vehicles around you will be able to better see your vehicle. Remember, you’re not the only driver on the road who is dealing with difficult driving conditions. Make sure you can see your surroundings, while enabling those in your surroundings to see you.
Give yourself an additional car length of separation
A golden rule for driving safely in the rain is to stay an additional car length behind the vehicle in front of you from what you usually do. Wet roads make it considerably more difficult to brake. Hydroplaning is a possibility, though, you can just about guarantee your vehicle will proceed a few feet further in wet road conditions in comparison to dry road conditions. To avoid hitting a vehicle as a result, follow the golden rule.
Abiding by these fundamental steps will prevent car accidents, injuries, and an overall inconvenience to your day. Moreover, following these steps will guarantee you are never the cause of an accident while it is raining.
We at Chavez towing are providing you these basic steps to help ensure the safety of you and any passengers in your vehicle. We hope you are never part of an accident or stuck on the side of the road. However, in the unfortunate event that you are, Chavez Towing is at your disposal. Please contact us if you are ever in need of an emergency tow.
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