When it rains, you need to be extra careful on the road. Why? Well, for one thing, there are more puddles and slick patches of pavement that can cause you to lose control of your car. There’s also less visibility because heavy rain can obscure your vision and make it more difficult to see clearly while on the road. So, what should you do if these things happen? You should follow these tips for defensive driving in the rain.
1. Check the Condition of Your Car
The first thing you want to do is make sure your car can handle the rain. If your tires are old, they might not be able to grip the pavement as well as they used to. You also need to make sure that your windshield wipers aren’t worn out or broken because you don’t want them moving too slow or fast when it’s raining.
2. Watch Out for Standing Water
As mentioned above, the rain will bring out a lot of puddles and patches of water on the road that could cause you to lose control and crash. Don’t try speeding over puddles, slow down if you can and plan a different route if you know of low areas where water tends to collect.
3. Adjust Tire Pressure
Depending on the weather outside, you might need to lower your tire pressure. Lower pressure means more of your tire can touch the road, which means better grip. You’ll want to check with your car’s manual for information about how many PSI you should adjust it down – be careful not to set it too low or you may risk other issues such as a blowout.
4. Be Wary of Hydroplaning
When roads are wet, the friction between rubber tires and tarmac is reduced substantially; this means that if your car moves too fast, it could slip and skid across standing water until you regain control or stop moving. If you find you’re losing control of your car, the last thing you want to do is slam on your brakes. Doing so can worsen the situation and cause you to skid farther, faster. Instead, let your foot off the gas and let your wheels slow down naturally. When you do so, you’ll find your car quickly lowers back onto the pavement, allowing you to regain control.
5. Find Alternate Routes or Wait it Out
If it starts raining while you’re driving on the road, then don’t be stubborn and keep pushing forward if the rain isn’t letting up anytime soon. Unless absolutely necessary, it’s better to pull over somewhere safe (a parking lot, gas station, etc.) and wait until the rain slows if you find yourself in a heavy downpour.
In conclusion, if you follow these tips you can greatly reduce your chances of having a wreck in the rain. However, it’s important to remember that even if you’re cautious while driving in rain, there might be other people who drive recklessly and may put your and others in danger. In addition to following the tips above, staying alert and avoiding cars that are driving recklessly is a good idea.
