Some Very, Very Wrong Ways To Drive In The Rain!

It’s raining. You know the drill – grab your umbrella and hustle to your car. But what do you do next? Just reverse out of the driveway and hit the highway Bond-style, right? WRONG! You can make many bad decisions while driving in the rain; we’re here to help you avoid them.

1. Tailgating Your Way Through a Downpour

This is not a racing videogame where you need drift points to go nitro!

Following too closely behind the car in front of you – is bad enough under normal circumstances. And if you tailgate while driving in the rain, you might get in an accident. That’s because your stopping distance increases while driving on wet roads.

That also means you need more space to come to a stop, and tailgating leaves you dangerously close to the vehicle in front of you. So, back off – no one likes a tailgater, especially when bad weather is involved.

2. Not Clearing Your Windows:

This one is a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many people try to drive with their windows all steamed up. It’s not only illegal in most states, but it’s also perilous. You need to be able to see out of your windows to drive safely, and rain will only make it harder to see.

So, take some extra seconds to clear your windows before you head out on the road. You can keep cat litter in a bag to keep your windscreen and windows from fogging.

3. Not Slowing Down:

What’s one thing you do when driving on wet roads? You slow down.

That’s because it takes longer to stop on wet roads, and you’re more likely to hydroplane if you’re going too fast.

Hydroplaning is when your car’s tires lose contact with the road because there’s too much water between them and the pavement. It can be scary, and you want to avoid it. Maintaining a speed of about 35mph when driving on wet roads is safe.

4. Driving Towards the Sides of the Road:

We realize it’s not always possible to avoid driving on the wet part of the road, but it is something you should try to avoid if possible. The roads have a crown in the middle. It is the road’s highest point and is there for a reason. It allows the water to run off to the sides of the road instead of pooling in the middle.

If you drive on the side of the road, you’re more likely to hydroplane because there will be a larger pool of water for your tires to go through. And you might encounter a terrible pothole you didn’t see because all the water camouflaged it.

5. Not Turning the Headlights On:

One of the bad driving habits is keeping your headlights set on the brightest setting. But, not turning them on, especially while driving in the rain, can be a safety hazard. It can be challenging to see while rain is coming down since there’s already a lack of sunshine.

So, keep your headlights mildly on, so you can see and be seen by other drivers. And please keep in mind, it’s not only limited to driving at night during rain. You can drive during the day and have your headlights on.

Conclusion:

There are a few reasons why you must avoid bad driving habits during a downpour. But, one of the major things is to keep your car functioning as it should. When water enters the engine, it will cause it to malfunction. If you feel your car needs maintenance, schedule service at Cutter CDJR Pearl City, serving Pearl City, HI.

We want you to be safe on all roads, so pay our mechanic a visit today!

Posted in Blog | No Comments »