Although the fall months are not as rainy as summer, the wet roads are still a road safety hazard. Even driving in a drizzle may lead to motor vehicle accidents due to the slippery roads. In fact, hydroplaning or skidding your car across the road happens more during the first 10 minutes of a light rain shower.
Below are a few tips to remember when driving your car in the rain.
Turn off cruise control
Cruise control may set a cruising speed that is too fast for rainy weather. You might skid or spin out because cruise control may not respond fast enough to the loss of traction. Moreover, turning on cruise control prevents you from lifting the accelerator and manually adjusting your speed when necessary.
Avoid the outer lanes
Even just a few inches of standing water can lead to losing control of your car and skidding. This is why it is often best to avoid driving through puddles of water, even seemingly harmless small and shallow ones. Since the outer lanes of the road are more likely to accumulate standing water during rainy or drizzling weather, staying on the inner lanes is generally better.
Learn how to respond to skidding
Knowing how to respond to a skid can help minimize damage and injuries if you lose control of your car due to the wet roads. If your car starts hydroplaning or skidding, keep the following tips in mind:
- Do not step on the brakes: Hydroplaning happens when you lose traction in your front tires. If you brake suddenly, you lock wheel movement in your rear tires as well, which can increase skidding and lead to a worse spin out.
- Slowly take your foot off the accelerator: Let your car slow down as gradually and as naturally as possible.
- Avoid panicking and turning the steering wheel: Stay calm as much as possible and keep a firm grip on your steering wheel to hold it steady. Rather than turning sharply, hold the steering wheel to follow the direction where your car wants to go.
Keep yourself safe in rainy weather
Car accidents can happen even in light or drizzling rain. Taking appropriate precautions helps you ensure not only your safety but also that of drivers and pedestrians around you.