Tips For Driving In The Rain
Tips For Driving In The Rain
Driving In The Rain: Three Gotta-Know Tactics To Stay Safe
Here at Edward’s Insurance Agency in Taylors, SC, we love the spring rains that bring us beautiful lawns and gardens, but we hate it when our clients have to file a car insurance claim because of rain-related car accidents! That’s why we put together this handy 3-part list of wet-weather driving tactics – so you can stay safe on the road in any weather.
New driver? Experienced driver? There’s always something to learn!
According to the Department of Transportation, there are an average of 1.2 million weather-related car accidents a year, resulting in around 5,000 fatalities. It is critical for every driver to know how to operate a vehicle safely in the rain. Even if you’ve been driving for decades, there is always something new to learn so you can keep yourself and your family safe in the rain and avoid filing a car insurance claim.
Most important driving tip – Have great auto insurance!
Accidents happen, even to the best drivers, and even on sunny days! Give the car insurance experts here at Edwards Insurance Agency a call today to make sure your car insurance coverage provides the right protection for you.
- Always keep your headlights on
Lack of visibility is a large component of what causes wet-weather car accidents. When you can’t see other cars and they can’t see you, bad things happen. Always keep your headlights on when driving in the rain, snow, fog, and other bad weather.
- Know what to do if you hydroplane
Hydroplaning is what happens when your tires hit a puddle of water on the road and your vehicle loses traction. This happens because the tires keep spinning, but the water prevents the tires from gripping the pavement. The result is that your car is still moving, but without traction, you have no control over which way it goes. You can’t steer, you can’t stop, and that is a terrifying feeling.
If you can prevent hydroplaning, that’s the way to go. If you see a spot coming up on the road with standing water, slow down. You can hydroplane in as little as 1/12 of an inch of water, even if you have four-wheel drive. If you see water, any water, SLOW DOWN.
If you start hydroplaning, do not hit the brakes. Take your foot off the gas and allow the car to slow down on its own. Hitting the brakes is likely to cause your car to spin out of control. Instead, let off the gas. If your car starts to move in a direction that’s different from the direction of your tires, steer gently into the direction the car is moving. This will help you gain traction more quickly. Do not jerk the wheel, which could cause your car to spin out or even flip over.
- Never use cruise control in the rain
This one sounds like an urban myth, but it’s very true. Cruise control sets your speed so you can “cruise” down the highway without pressing the gas. The problem is, in wet conditions, you need to be constantly adjusting your speed to conditions. If you start hydroplaning while in cruise control, it will actually make your car move faster, increasing your chance of having an accident and having to file a car insurance claim.
Wet-weather driving is a skill all drivers need!
Here in South Carolina, wet-weather driving is a skill every driver needs. Next time you hit the road in wet conditions, keep these tips in mind to have greater confidence and control behind the wheel.
