10 Things Everybody Should Know About Driving In The Rain

10 Things Everybody Should Know About Driving In The Rain

Driving in stormy, rainy, windy weather is never fun. Even a light drizzle can cause problems. Driving in the rain requires more focus. It can be scary when rain is coming down at a rate faster than your wipers can handle. Or, the car in front of you is not visible through the downpour. Hydroplaning is a risk too. Puddles form and rain mixes with oil on the road creating slippery conditions.

Most weather-related crashes occur on wet pavement or during rainfall. In fact, each year about 4,800 people die and 384,000 sustain injury as a result of car crashes on wet pavement. When driving in the rain, you want to use extra caution. We’ve put together some tips to follow if you’re venturing out into a storm.

10 Tips for Driving in the Rain:

1. Use your headlights. Most state laws require it. In Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the law requires your headlights be on with your wipers. This means even if it’s 1:00 in the afternoon. Headlights help you see better. Additionally, they help other drivers see your car. But, daytime running lights do not help in the rain. Drivers behind you need to see your lights too. Remember – wipers on, headlights on!
2. Maintain a safe following distance. Under normal conditions, you would drive at least three seconds behind the car in front of you. But this should increase in bad weather. It’s especially important to increase your distance when driving behind trucks and buses. The spray created by their large tires reduces visibility.
3. Don’t speed. The faster you go, the harder it is for your tires to maintain traction with the road. By driving slower, you’re giving your tires more time to scatter the water on the road. This helps to avoid hydroplaning.
4. Turn off cruise control. Cruise control will cause the car to speed up if you hit a puddle or begin to hydroplane. This creates a dangerous situation.
5. If you begin to hydroplane, remain calm and do not make any sudden movements. Do not jerk your steering wheel, speed up hard, or slam on your brakes. Instead, let off the gas and steer the car straight or in the direction of the skid. Do this until you regain contact with the road.
6. Avoid flooded roads. If you see a large puddle and are unsure of the depth of the water, don’t drive through it. You risk getting stuck or ruining your car.
7. Don’t drive through moving water. If water is crossing the road, turn around. It may not look like a strong current, but it could carry you off the road. Turn around, don’t drown.
8. Be prepared for wind. Some rainstorms bring heavy wind. If you feel your car move after a big wind gust, hold onto the steering wheel and don’t panic. Make slight adjustments to stay in your lane. Also, be aware of large trucks and buses on the road. They are more susceptible to high winds due to their larger surface area.
9. Watch for debris on the road. This can include objects such as fallen trees or branches. Downed power lines also present danger.
10. See and be seen. If it’s raining so hard that you can’t see the road or the cars around you pull over when it is safe to do so. Just wait it out. If you can’t see the road, put on your four-way flashers and find a safe place to pull off the road. Make sure you pull your car as far off the road as possible. Other cars may have trouble seeing the road too and might not see you.

Philadelphia Car Injury Lawyers

At Kane and Silverman, we encourage drivers to be careful when driving in rain. This includes hurricanes and bad storms. We can all reduce the number of injuries and fatalities if we follow these tips.
If you or a loved one is the victim of a car crash in the rain we can help. Additionally, a slip and fall on wet pavement can cause severe injury call us for legal advice. If your car crashes due to hydroplaning, you should consult one of our attorneys. The Philadelphia and New Jersey car injury lawyers at Kane & Silverman can help. We listen to you. Call or text us today at 215-232-1000 for a free consultation. Or fill out our online contact form and a member of our legal team will contact you.