More than 1 million weather-related crashes occur each year – mostly on wet pavement and nearly half while it’s raining. Smart drivers know techniques for driving in the rain, avoiding hydroplaning and using the vehicle’s safety features. Here are some tips brought to you by The Kim Homra Insurance Agency in Paducah, Kentucky for driving in wet conditions that you can save for a rainy day.
Use These Wet Weather Driving Techniques:
- Keep both hands on the steering wheel at all times.
- Eliminate distractions – cell phones, radio, people talking, etc.
- Keep six car lengths between you and the car ahead.
- Maintain a safe speed. A rule of thumb: Reduce your speed by 10 m.p.h. for each level you increase your windshield wiper speed.
- Avoid flooded roads. Deep water can stall your engine and even cause your vehicle to float.
- Drive in the middle lanes, since water is usually deeper in the outside lanes.
- Drive in the tracks of the vehicles ahead of you.
- Be careful around large trucks and buses. Don’t follow too closely; spray from their large tires can hit your windshield and temporarily obscure your vision. Pass with caution, but get around these large vehicles quickly and safely.
- Watch for brake lights ahead.
- If the visibility is poor, pull off onto the shoulder until it clears.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning (or skidding) occurs when a vehicle loses traction after it hits a patch of water. Water builds up on front of the tires so fast that the car’s weight can’t push it out of the way – causing it to ride on top of the water and slide until traction is restored.
Tips To Avoid Hydroplaning:
- Maintain a controlled speed, especially on curves.
- Steer and brake lightly; sudden corrections can cause you to lose traction.
- Keep tires properly inflated and be sure there’s good tread depth.
- If you do start to hydroplane, stay calm, ease off the gas and don’t suddenly apply the brakes or jerk the steering wheel.
THIS MESSAGE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE KIM HOMRA INSURANCE AGENCY LOCATED IN PADUCAH, KENTUCKY.