Top Tips For Driving In The Rain

Weather can have a severe impact on driving conditions. Wind, fog, and precipitation can make driving more challenging due to reduced visibility and decreased control over your vehicle. While snow and windstorms can make driving difficult, rain is the most dangerous driving condition. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, most weather-related car accidents occur either during rain or on wet pavement.

Driving in the rain creates two main risks. First, wet pavement reduces the traction of the vehicle’s wheels, which impacts a driver’s handling capability and the car’s performance. The car becomes more difficult to stop, and sliding is more likely, decreasing your ability to control the vehicle’s direction.

The second primary driving risk caused by rain is impacted visibility, since it can be hard to see through heavy rainfall, especially when driving at night. It’s harder to see pavement markings when driving in the dark during a rainstorm and wet or fogged-up windows can interfere with visibility.

Our team at Performance Toyota in Fairfield, Ohio, wants to help make the roads safer for everybody, regardless of poor weather conditions. Our best tip for driving in heavy rain is: don’t. If possible, the safest option is to avoid driving until the rain lightens or stops. However, sometimes it’s necessary to go during a downpour. If you can’t avoid driving in wet weather, here are our top tips for driving in heavy rain.

Be Extra Cautious and Mindful When Driving in the Rain

Image by Wes Hicks is licensed with Unsplash License

It’s essential to drive mindfully any time you get behind the wheel. However, exercise additional caution when driving in poor weather conditions. You’ll want to be extra alert for other vehicles around you, especially large ones. Trucks or trailers are more difficult to handle during wet and windy conditions, and drivers of large vehicles like these might have trouble staying in the marked lanes. If a large vehicle comes up alongside you while driving in the rain, you might want to let it pass by and maintain a safe driving distance behind it.

Turn On Your Headlights

Most states require headlights to be turned on when driving in the rain. This helps you see better and makes your vehicle more visible to others.

Drive Below the Speed Limit

While following the posted speed limit is generally safest, in the rain, it’s sensible to go slower than you would in normal driving conditions. While rain makes the roads slippery and decreases traction, water lifts oils from the pavement, making roads very slick. Remember that wet pavement will reduce your vehicle’s reaction time, and you’re more likely to slide if you suddenly hit the brakes. If you must drive in the rain, you’ll want to allot extra travel time so you don’t feel rushed and can drive safely at a reduced speed to arrive at your destination on time.

Increase Following Distance

Since stopping your car on wet pavement will take longer, increase your following distance when driving in the rain. The increased space will give you time to brake gently if you need to slow down. If you’re driving behind another vehicle, try to go in the tracks left by the car in front of you. The tracks are caused by water being displaced by the tires from the car ahead, so your tires will have better traction.

Keep Your Windows Clear

Keep your windows clear and your windshield wipers on. You might want to use a spray product on the windshield that repels water and increases visibility. Turn on your front and rear defrosters to prevent the front and back windows from fogging. If your windows still fog up and you can’t see through your windows, pull over and resolve the problem.

Increase Your Awareness at Intersections

Again, it’s always important to be attentive when driving. However, when road conditions are less than optimal, use additional caution at intersections, curves, and areas of merging traffic. Be aware of fast-moving vehicles that can spray water and temporarily block your view.

Don’t Use Cruise Control When It’s Raining

Cruise control is a welcome convenience for regulating your car’s speed when driving long distances. However, when roads are wet, you’ll need to be able to slow down by lifting your foot off the accelerator. Cruise control decreases your ability to control the car in rainy weather.

Avoid Standing Water

Driving through standing water creates a risk of hydroplaning, which can happen when a wet surface makes the tire lose contact with the pavement. This causes the vehicle to lose traction and makes it impossible for a driver to steer correctly.

Safety Tips in Case of Hydroplaning

Even if you drive with additional caution during rain, you might hydroplane at some point. Here are some tips when you feel you’ve lost control and the vehicle isn’t responding to steering.

• Immediately take your foot off the accelerator.
• Gently steer in the same direction in which your car is hydroplaning.
• Wait to feel your tires regain traction with the road.

Hydroplaning can be frightening. After a hydroplaning incident, consider pulling off the road for a few minutes to regain your composure and calm down.

Maintain Your Vehicle

Maintaining your vehicle is part of being a responsible car owner and ensures that all safety equipment, such as headlights, taillights, and brake lights, work correctly. Poorly maintained features, such as balding tires or bad brakes, can make driving in the rain more dangerous, so it’s vitally important to properly maintain your vehicle if you must drive in hazardous weather conditions.

If any of your vehicle’s features, such as the defrost or windshield wipers, aren’t operating correctly, don’t risk driving during rainstorms. Bring your car to a trusted shop where they can check your vehicle’s defroster, tires, brakes, battery, and other equipment to ensure everything is working correctly.

The team at Performance Toyota in Fairfield, Ohio, is happy to support the driving community by sharing our best tips for driving in the rain. Remember, the first tip is to avoid driving in heavy rain whenever possible, but if you do find yourself driving in rainy conditions, follow these guidelines to increase your safety. Let us know if you have any other questions about driving in rainy weather conditions or properly maintaining your vehicle.