A lot of people feel they drive perfectly fine in the rain. That’s especially true for those with years or decades of experience. However, one wrong decision could prove disastrous. Here are tips to stay safe while driving in the rain.
Prepare for the Rainy Season
As the first step, have your vehicle checked by the team at Buick GMC of Brandywine in Brandywine, Maryland, before the start of the rainy season. A qualified technician will inspect all belts and hoses, fluid levels, motor oil, and windshield wiper blades. In addition, they inspect the tires. After all, worn tread reduces their ability to grab the surface of roads. That’s bad enough, but when wet, your car could easily slide out of control.
Reduce Your Speed
Even if you’re in a hurry, drive slower when it’s raining. After all, it’s better to arrive at your destination safely than not at all. Excessive speed plays a major role in a lot of car accidents. For one thing, surfaces become 33 percent more slippery than when they’re dry. For another, even moisture on surfaces poses a risk. As a good rule of thumb, reduce your speed by one-third.
Increase Car Distance
Tailgating a car is one of the worst things you can do when driving in the rain. In dry conditions, if the driver in front of you brakes suddenly, you’d have a hard time stopping. So, you can imagine what would happen on slippery roads.
Experts recommend keeping one car length for every 10 miles an hour you drive. However, increase the distance to two car lengths when it’s raining.
Correct Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning occurs when tires skim over water on a driving surface. In other words, they don’t provide the traction needed for safe driving. Because that makes it impossible to steer, you might think you’re at the mercy of the car. However, you can correct hydroplaning by steering your vehicle in the same direction as the hydroplane. Also, don’t accelerate or brake. Instead, come to a slow stop.
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Understand Your Car’s Technology
If you drive a new or newer model automobile, it features a lot of advanced technology. Some of those can protect you when you drive while it’s raining. Therefore, take time to understand which features apply and how to use them correctly.
A few examples include Forward Collision Warning and Blind Spot Monitoring. The first feature will warn you if you drift out of your lane or come too close to the vehicle ahead of you. The second feature will notify you about another vehicle or object in your blind spot.
If you have an older car, consider trading it in for something newer. That’s where the team at Buick GMC of Brandywine in Brandywine, Maryland, can assist. They’ll help you find a vehicle that provides optimal protection.