Driving Safely in the Wet Weather

When the rainy season starts are you ready for it? This is also the time of year when total darkness sets in during the late afternoon and fog is lurking just around the corner. That means that the traffic-hour rush-time now is occurring in the dark and sometimes rain and fog also and the roads are going to be slicker and there are going to be holes in the road filled with water.

So, of course there are going to be many more accidents because of these things. The one most important thing to do is to drive much more slowly because for one thing this will give your tires more traction as more of the tread will be on the road. Also, you want to avoid those holes filled with water because if you hit one while traveling speedily down the road water can splash up and get in your car's engine sometimes actually causing it to stall. That's the last thing you want to happen when it's raining because you'll have to get out in the rain to fix the situation.

There are many other safe ways to drive in inclement weather such as try to drive steadily and when braking or turning try not to make quick movements and never follow closely behind another car. It has been proven that it can take up to three times longer to stop when you're driving on a wet road.

We've all probably heard the term "hydroplaning" but do you know what it means. It happens when you driving in wet weather and all four of your tires are in a puddle of water and you hit your brakes too hard causing your car to glide across the surface of the water, sometimes putting your car into a spin. This is not the time to put on your brakes, in fact that is the worst thing you could do. The situation should be handled differently depending on what type of transmission you have. With a manual transmission, you should push in the clutch and let the car slow down. The difference with an automatic transmission is that you should tightly hold on to the steering wheel while gently applying the brakes.

Driving in rainy weather is dangerous even if you're at your best, so if you're tired you need to find a good place to pull off the road to rest. While you're driving in the rain or fog you should keep all distractions under control and always keep your two hands on the steering wheel and both your eyes on the road.

If you have prepared for the wet weather before it actually is upon you, you will have checked your tires to make sure they all have enough tread and they are at the correct pressure for this type of weather. You should also have checked your spare tire to make sure it is ready for you when you need it and also that your jack is in good condition. It is also a good idea for those who live in an area where it rains a lot to have an extra pair of windshield wipers in your trunk.