Rain is a good thing: it helps water our plants, it can be fun
to frolic in; but driving in it? That’s not so fun. In fact, it can be
downright dangerous.
Why
Is Rain So Dangerous to Drive In?
Rain actually causes your tires to lose traction—when the road
gets wet, the water mixes with the dirt on the asphalt, making it harder for
your tires to “hang on” to the road. Simply put, rain makes everything
slippery, and puddles that form can lead to hydroplaning. Apart from what the
precipitation does to the road and your car, the rain makes it difficult to
see. We’ve all been there: you’re driving along and all of a sudden the
downpour becomes so thick that it’s hard to see where you’re going.
TIPS
AND TECHNIQUES
Plan
for More Time on the Road
When it’s raining, even if it’s not that much, traffic tends to
move slower (drivers in California are all too familiar with this). And though
it may slow you down on your commute to school or work, this is a good thing:
you should drive slower in the rain. Always give yourself plenty of time (this
means allowing extra time) to get to your destination. Never rush when it’s
raining heavily: accidents are even more likely when weather conditions are
poor.
Be
More Cautious with Braking
When you’re driving in a downpour, you simply cannot brake late
the way you can in ideal weather conditions. The roads are slippery, which
means you could slide more if you brake too quickly. There’s also a chance that
you could get water in your brakes, which will cause them to lose their
stopping power. You want to avoid slamming on your brakes—when it’s raining,
you should brake with less force. So be sure to keep plenty of distance between
you and the car in front of you to avoid any of these situations. As you may
recall from Drivers Ed, the following distance in ideal conditions is three
seconds—increase that distance to 4 seconds or more in the rain, depending on
the situation.
Use
Your Headlights
Even if it’s only lightly sprinkling, your headlights will help
you see the road better. Plus, having your headlights on allows other drivers
to see you. However, contrary to what you may think, using your high-beam
headlights will actually make things worse: the light from the beams will
reflect back at you off the water in the air, actually making it harder for you
to see.
Do
Not Use Cruise Control
While you may think having your car travel at a set speed when
it’s raining is a good idea, cruise control can actually become problematic
when it’s raining. If your car hydroplanes while you have your cruise control
set, your car can actually accelerate—which is not something you want to happen
when you’re hydroplaning. Having your foot away from the pedals can also be
hazardous when you are driving in torrential rain.
Be
Extra Careful After Long Dry Spells
If it’s raining hard after a long period of dryness, you need to
be even more cautious on the road. Over time, engine oil and other substances
build up on streets, and when rainwater gets added to the mix, a very slippery
combination results. The first few hours of that initial rain are the most
treacherous. Eventually, the rain washes away the buildup on the streets, but
until then, be wary when driving anywhere.
Avoid
Standing Water
Staying away from standing water (like large puddles) is the
best-case scenario, but if you approach it on the roadway and must drive
through it, be sure you slow down. If you don’t, you risk hydroplaning and
losing control of your car. Plus, passing through deep water could spell
trouble for your car’s engine and brakes.
Stay
Off the Road If Possible
Of course, the best thing is to stay at home when there’s a
rainstorm. Obviously this isn’t always possible, with school, work, and other
obligations, but if you can stay off the road, do so. There’s no sense risking
an accident if you don’t have to.