How to Drive Safely in Wet Weather

Summer, with its long days and warm weather, brings a welcome relief to drivers who spent the winter negotiating snowy or icy roadways. But summer brings its own weather hazards for drivers who travel through those parts of the country that experience torrential summer downpours, flash floods, and hail storms. Rain and wet roadways cause thousands of accidents every year, mainly because many drivers don’t alter their driving techniques for the changed conditions. Most of these accidents are preventable if you simply follow the basic precautions of driving in wet conditions.

When roads are wet, the film of water on the pavement reduces tire traction. If the layer of water builds to a degree that all traction is lost, a condition called hydroplaning, your vehicle will no longer respond to control inputs like steering or braking. Instead it will skate on the sheet of water like an unsteered sled. The potential for hydroplaning increases with vehicle speed and the depth of the water on the road. The best strategy to prevent this frightening and dangerous experience is to avoid as many contributors to hydroplaning as possible.

There are some good tips for you:

1. The first few hours of rain after a dry spell are the most dangerous. This is because oil, grease, and rubber dust build up on the roadway over time. When blended with water this mixture makes the pavement dangerously slick, especially at intersections where vehicles stop and start frequently. Be extra careful until the rain has time to wash away the skid mixture.

2. Slow down! Reduce your speed to less than posted limits, which are established for dry conditions. Slower speeds let your tires shed water more efficiently and also give you more reaction time in the decreased visibility of a storm. Always expect that rain means longer travel times due to reduced speed and poor driving conditions. Leave earlier and don’t rush to make up for lost time.

3. If you do cross standing water, remember that your brakes may be wet, decreasing their effectiveness. More reason to slow down. Only driving slowly and braking gently will generate enough heat to dry them out.

4. If it is raining or hailing so hard that you can’t see the road ahead or other vehicles around you from a safe distance, then it is time to pull safely off the road and wait until conditions improve. If you planned ahead, you have already given yourself more travel time to deal with the delay. If you do have to stop at the side of a road, keep your headlights on and turn on your emergency flashers.

5. Avoid standing water. Besides increasing the danger of hydro planning, large puddles can conceal pot holes or debris in the road. You may also be unable to judge the depth of the water and find yourself stuck with a flooded engine compartment. If you see standing water, drive around it or choose another route. Stay toward the middle of crowned roads to avoid standing water at curbs and shoulders.