If you’ve ever been stuck driving in heavy rain and realize you and your vehicle aren’t prepared, hopefully, you learned a lesson from this experience.
Driving in the rain can be extremely difficult, but it becomes worse if you and your vehicle aren’t ready to face the challenge. There are several things you should do before you ever get out on the foul weather and have to deal with a situation that can become a big problem. Let’s look at some of the things you should do before it rains, and what to do while it’s raining.
How Can You Be Prepared for the Rain
More of your driving in foul weather has to do with ensuring your car is ready to face the challenge. You can be the most talented driver but if your tires are bald, or your wipers are worn, your talents can’t overcome these issues. Here are a few things you need to do before you head out on the road.
Check Your Windshield Wipers
The time to discover that your wipers are worn or don’t work isn’t when you’re stuck driving in heavy rain. A good rule of thumb is to change them every spring and fall, but sometimes they need to be changed more frequently. Occasionally, when its not raining, test your wipers to make sure they work properly.
Inspect Your Tires for Good Tread Depth
Your tires need to have a deep enough tread to handle pushing water and snow away from your vehicle. If your tires look like the smooth rubber used on racetracks, you shouldn’t be driving in any kind of foul weather, especially rain and snow.
Make Sure You Have an Adequate Amount of Fuel
Some people won’t allow their cars to dip below half a tank because they want to be prepared for an emergency situation where they could sit in traffic for several hours. Others push the boundaries of an empty tank. If you’re in the second group, its time to change your thinking, especially if you get caught driving in heavy rain.
Keep Your Phone Charged
Even though most newer vehicles have charging ports for you to use, not all vehicles have this functionality. If you don’t have a way to charge your phone in the car, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re fully charged before you head out on the road.
Know Your Climate Control System
The climate controls of your car will help you keep a clear windshield while driving in heavy rain. Sometimes, the outside conditions change rapidly, causing your windshield to fog up. You need to know how to defog it right away. The best way is to try and match the outside temperatures, even if it causes you a little discomfort in the process.
Stay Tuned to the Local Radio
Driving in heavy rain is not the time to have your Spotify playlist going. This is when you should be tuned into the local radio to learn of any road closures, accidents, or floods in the area. It might be safer for you to take an alternate route to where you need to go.
Do You Need to be On the Road
If it starts to rain or you see a large weather system in the upcoming forecast you should ask yourself if you really need to go out on the road. It might be better to wait until after the storm when the roads are clear again.
What Should You Do When Driving in Heavy Rain?
You’ve prepared your vehicle and made the decision to head out. You might not have known about the weather, but now it’s raining cats and dogs and you’ve got to keep going to get where you need to go. Here’s what you should do.
Keep Your Speed Low
The speed limit is the maximum safe speed on the road during dry and daytime conditions. When its raining or snowing, you need to lower your speed and go slower. Don’t go any faster than you feel comfortable, regardless of what other drivers are doing.
Keep a Large Distance Between Cars
The roads are wet and slippery, you need a greater space between vehicles when driving in heavy rain. This is common sense, but you’ll be surprised at how many people don’t leave enough room out on the road. Extend your distance between your car and the one in front of you. If an accident happens, you’ll be glad to have this extra space to slow or stop your car.
Keep Your Headlights on the Lower Beams
Many people are tempted to turn their high-beams on during foul weather, but this doesn’t help you see at all. If you can’t see well enough to feel safe driving, pull over to the side of the road and wait for the storm to pass. If you continue driving in the rain, use your low-beam headlights.
Be Prepared to Hydroplane
When too much water gets between your tires and the road, your car could hydroplane. This is a terrible feeling and one that makes you feel like you don’t have control of the car. The best thing to do is take your foot of the gas but do not press the brake. Try to continue going straight while hydroplaning. Hopefully, as the car slows, you will regain traction.
Use Your Climate System to Keep the Windshield Clear
You don’t need to fiddle with the system when you’re driving in heavy rain, but if your windshield fogs up, try to match the outside temperature to clear it up. If this doesn’t work, open a couple of windows slightly and allow some of the outside air into the vehicle.
Stay Safe in the Rain
Using these tips, you can avoid an accident when driving in heavy rain. You could follow all of these tips and still end up in a collision, but not following them will almost assure you’ll be in an accident when you drive around in the rain.
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