99TravelSafe.com
19 - Driving in the Rain
The Website For The Smart and Savvy Traveler
LOSING control of your car on wet pavement is a frightening experience. Unfortunately, it can happen unless you take preventive measures.
In all sorts of rain, you can prevent skids by driving slowly and carefully.
On curves steer and brake with a light touch. When you need to stop or slow, do not brake hard or lock the wheels and risk a skid
Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal.
If you do find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go. Avoid using your brakes.
This procedure, known as "steering into the skid," will bring the back end of your car in line with the front.
While skids on wet pavement may be frightening, hydroplaning is completely nerve-wrecking.
Hydroplaning happens when the water in front of your tires builds up faster than your car's weight can push it out of the way. The water pressure causes your car to rise up and slide on a thin layer of water between your tires and the road. At this point, your car can be completely out of contact with the road, and you are in danger of skidding or drifting out of your lane.
To avoid hydroplaning, maintain good tread on your tires and replace them when necessary, slow down when roads are wet, and stay away from puddles.
Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you.
If you find yourself hydroplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a skid. Ease your foot off the gas until the car slows and you can feel the road again. If you need to brake, do it gently with light pumping actions. If your car has anti-lock (ABS) brakes, then brake normally; the car's computer will mimic a pumping action.
A good defensive driver adjusts their speed to the wet road conditions in time to avoid having to use any of these measures.
Do not use cruise control in rainy conditions.
Before driving in the rain, make sure your headlights, tail lights, and windshield wipers work well
Drive considerably slower than normal when it’s raining
Even in light rain use windshield wipers
Turn on your headlights
Keep your distance from other cars
Avoid heavy or abrupt braking
Keep an eye out for standing water.
Driving through standing water increases the risk of hydroplaning
If you hydroplane, take-off your foot from the gas-pedal and slow down your car. Do not try to over brake
Use defroster, open some window to ventilate car and thus clear foggy windows