Yikes. How Do I Drive Safely When It Is Raining?

The topic of how to drive safely in the rain hasn't been brought up many times here in

Texas within the past couple of years, because the state has been suffering from an

extreme drought.

Thankfully, this past spring we got some record breaking rainfall.

As a consequence, driver's have had to remind themselves regarding the problems that rainfall delivers as we drive and exactly what to keep in mind to be able to stay as

safe as we possibly can.

Definitely one of my favorite options that my van provides is cruise control.

I particularly like to use it on long road trips, but I use it when I am driving in town also.

Cruise control works well when road conditions are dry, however, in the case that highway

conditions are wet it's best not to employ cruise control so that we as drivers can completely

concentrate on every aspect of driving.

In order to maximize our security, as well as to improve the management of our car when

we are driving, the cruise control feature must be disconnected when it is raining.

Just go old school and use your feet the way you were trained when you took drivers

education.

To Drive Safely When It Is Raining Turn Your Headlights On

Many newer autos now come equipped with front lights that remain on whenever we are

driving.

The concept here is to aid in making our cars simpler to see.

When it rains visibility is reduced, both our ability to observe others autos as well as the

capability of other motorist's to see our automobile.

Ensuring that our headlights are on while it is pouring down rain will help to improve

visibility for each driver on the streets.

To drive safely when it is raining it is essential to be positive that both the

headlights and taillights of our cars are really in proper working order at all times.

When it rains the grease that is on the road is raised up and blended with water and this

mixture makes the highway more slick.

A slippery freeway offers less traction for all our automobiles.

This absence of traction may result in hydroplaning, a condition where our car tires

lose their degree of contact with the roadway.

To stay clear of the potential of hydroplaning, we should reduce our speed

as soon as the freeway is wet.

Furthermore, this mix of oil and water will make it more hazardous for drivers who

make sharp turns or who try to make rapid stops while driving in rain.

To drive safely when it is raining, we as drivers ought to think further ahead and plan

our turns and stops earlier.

In addition, it goes without saying that compounding the dangers of driving in rain with using your cellphone to send a text or to check your messages is a very bad idea

and a potential recipe for disaster.

Provide Additional Space To Drive Safely When It Is Raining

Leaving added space between the vehicle ahead of us is surely a smart idea when the

street is wet.

Instead of using the 2-second following rule, drivers ought to increase that time-frame to

a 3-second or 4-second following rule instead.

Stopping distances grow on wet roads and providing more room between our car and

the one in front of us will give us an improved chance to take action in order to

stop without incident.

There have been numerous motorists that had to be saved this past May here in Texas, when they made an effort to drive-through

zones of roads which were covered with water.

It does not take much water depth on a road for our vehicle to start to float or to be

pulled off of a road altogether.

In the event you are unable to unmistakably see the highway itself, as a consequence of standing or flowing water, the safe option is

to turn around and find a different path.

As the public safety messages say, if you wish to drive safely when it is raining, turn

around.

don't drown!

Here in Texas we are glad for the rain that we received last spring.

To be able to drive safely when it is raining, keeping these tips in mind will help to keep everybody safer as we drive down the road.