Tips to Stay Safe on Wet Roads

Even in the safest driving conditions, accidents still happen. When rain or snow are involved, the chances of a collision drastically increase. The best thing you can do is learn how to maneuver safely in any condition. So, check out these tips to help you stay safe on wet roads.

Increase Your Distance

In wet conditions, your vehicle’s ability to slow down is stop is decreased. On top of that, sudden swerves are even more dangerous. Increasing the distance between you and the car in front of you gives you plenty of time to slow down and respond if they happen to hit the brakes suddenly.

Don’t Slam on the Brakes

Whether it’s a deer jumping onto the road, the car in front of your hitting their brakes unexpectedly, or you find yourself hydroplaning, resist the natural reaction to slam on the brakes. When the roads are wet, this can cause you to lose control of your vehicle.

Instead, gently pump the brakes to get the most stopping effect. This reduces slipping from water, rain, and snow. It’s a tough tip to remember in the heat of the moment, but it’s one you’ll want in the back of your mind in case of an emergency.

Keep Your Hands on the Wheel

It’s easy to drive with one hand while you snack, change the radio station, or light up a cigarette. While there’s nothing wrong with that in ideal condition, it does give you less control your vehicle in the event of an emergency. In wet condition, you need all the control you can get. So, always keep both your hands on the steering wheel.

The Anti-Fog Trick

Rainy weather almost always leads to foggy windows since the temperature inside your car is warmer than the temperature outside. Your defrosters can help you here, but they don’t always do the trick. If that’s the case, run the A/C for a bit to cool the cabin down. If that doesn’t work, don’t hesitate to crack the windows.

Avoiding Hydroplaning

As heavy as your car might be, it can still hydroplane. This happens when a thin layer of water comes between your vehicle’s wheels and the road. Traveling at or slightly under the speed limit can help you avoid this dangerous scenario, but there’s no sure-fire way to stop it.

If you do find yourself hydroplaning, the first thing to do is ease off the brakes before you start sliding sideways. Keeping your steering wheel as straight as possible also helps. Don’t hit the gas, either. Just allow your car to slow down until you regain traction or come to a point where you can pull over and stop.

This is by far the most dangerous scenario on wet roads, leading to terrible accidents and even unintended fatalities. That’s what legal professionals, like this Bay Area wrongful death lawyer, are for. If you follow the tips above, you should be able to avoid any major accidents.

Skip the Puddles

The splash that happens after driving through a puddle can be fun, but plenty of drivers can tell you what an enormous mistake that is. You have no way of knowing how deep that puddle is or if there is an enormous pothole hiding underneath. Before you pop a tire or cause other damage, slow down and drive around the puddle if you can.