BLAME IT ON THE RAIN..

Wet weather driving demands more attention from drivers because of limited visibility and changes to vehicle handling on wet surfaces. Most of us have continued to drive during this pandemic, however their are drivers that stopped or may have have forgotten what it is like to drive in wet surfaces. All drivers can still travel safely if they practice good techniques at all times. Driving in the rain doesn’t have to be difficult just because it’s wet. All the same safety methods apply, wet or dry.

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SAFETY FIRST IN THE WET

• SLOW DOWN!:  It takes longer to stop or adjust road position in the rain.
• BACK-OFF:  Increase your following distance. Your perception to reaction does change.
  
• ROAD POSITION:  Stay towards the middle lanes on the roadway because water tends to pool in outside lanes; drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you – it’s just cleared a path in the roadway and now you’ll have a little less water to travel through.
• STAY ALERT:  Avoid distractions, keep your vision “up”, SCAN around your vehicle for other vehicles nearby, listen to the road around you - you’ll hear other vehicles moving in the rain.
  
• USE CONTROLS WISELY:  Don’t “overuse” the accelerator, brakes, or steering wheel.  Be smooth in all applications of control.
• PREPARE EARLY:  Don’t wait for things to happen around you.  SCANNING can allow you to see things as they develop and will give you more time to formulate a plan of action.
  

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SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES ON WET ROADS

• BE READY FOR SKIDS:  If the vehicle begins to skid, remove the cause by releasing the accelerator or brake.  Look where you want the car to go and steer in that direction SMOOTHLY – DON’T PANIC.
• OILY ROAD SURFACES:  During the first rain, the roads may be oily with rubber and other vehicle fluids.  Exercise caution and get a good “feel” for the road.
• DRIVING THROUGH WATER:  If the road is flooded and water is moving rapidly, change your route.  NEVER drive through water if you can’t see ground through it.  .
  
• USE VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY PROPERLY:  Technology can both help and hurt in the rain, so know and understand your vehicle.
  • ABS (Anti-lock Brakes):  A good tool in the rain – use the full ABS capability only when necessary.
  • Cruise Control:  DON’T use cruise control in the rain – it may prevent you from slowing down when needed.
  • ESC (Stability Control):  Can help to stabilize the vehicle if it begins to veer or slide.  Check to see if your vehicle is equipped with this technology.

                            TECHNOLOGY DOES NOT REPLACE THE ACTIVE DRIVER

• SPRAY FROM OTHER VEHICLES:  Increase your following distance behind other vehicles, and try to stay away from large trucks, tractors, and trailers because they generate spray at the rear and also along the sides.  The spray and wind can create significant visibility issues.