What Not To Do While Driving In The Rain

According to the U.S Department of Transportation, approximately 21 percent of vehicle crashes are weather-related accidents that happen in bad weather conditions and on wet roads. Seventy percent of weather-related accidents occur on wet pavement, and forty-six percent happen during rainfall. Although it is usually safe to drive in the rain, this article will talk about things you shouldn’t do while driving in the rain.

If you have to drive in rainy weather, especially a torrential downpour, don’t drive too close to other vehicles, don’t drive a faulty car in the rain, and do not drive into standing water.

Things to Avoid While Driving in the Rain

Driving in the rain is not entirely avoidable, but there are several things you can avoid doing while driving in the rain to enjoy a safer experience. Let’s look at things you should avoid doing while driving in rainy conditions.

Avoid Driving in a Rain Storm

Heavy rain greatly reduces visibility, so if it’s not absolutely necessary, do not drive when it’s pouring. You’ll have difficulty seeing what’s in front of you because of reduced visibility and your windshield wipers may not keep up. In the event of a rainstorm, pull over and park somewhere safe to wait out the storm.

Don’t Speed on Wet Roads

When it’s raining, water mixes up with oils on the road, and this causes the road to be slicker than usual. Stick to the posted speed limit since it’s easy to lose control of your car when speeding in the rain.

Driving in wet conditions is already risky, but speeding on slick roads will increase that risk enormously.

Use Your Windshield Wipers

Your windshield wipers are your best friend when driving in the rain. Whether a drizzle or a heavy downpour, the onslaught of rainwater on your windshield makes it challenging to see in already reduced visibility, and wipers help clear the moisture away.

Ensure that your windshield wipers are in good working condition to avoid leaving streaks on the glass or uncomfortable creaking noises from the blades. You can also try hydrophobic products that cause water to slide to the sides of your windshield and pool there instead of clinging to the glass.

Avoid Using Cruise Control & Heavy Breaking

You should avoid using cruise control when driving in rainy weather to pay better attention to the gas and the road. If you need to slow down, remove your foot from the accelerator earlier than usual since your vehicle’s reaction time is much slower in the rain. Using cruise control can cause you to lose control of your car, so avoid doing it and avoid hard braking too.

In addition, avoid driving on unfamiliar roads, as you may drive into dangerous situations like a hidden pothole. Stick to familiar routes in situations like these or wait till it stops raining and the roads are clear before attempting to navigate an unfamiliar road.

Safety Precautions For Driving In Wet Weather

Driving in wet conditions can be tricky, but you arrive at your destination safely by observing some simple precautions. Taking precautions starts way before your car hits the road. Good maintenance will go a long way in keeping your car road worthy. Keep your car windows and windshield clean at all times.

Wash away grime and dirt from all glasses for better visibility. Also, keep the headlights clean by giving them a good cleaning from time to time. This will improve the effectiveness of your lights in rainy weather. Here are some things you should do while driving in the rain.

1. Thoroughly Check Your Car’s Equipment for Faults: Driving a faulty vehicle is not advisable, especially on wet roads. It’s common sense to check your car’s equipment for faults occasionally. Check things like the windshield wiper blades and the tires. Balding tires are dangerous as they severely reduce traction on a wet road. Double-check everything, including your tires’ tread depth, headlights, and wiper blades.
2. Avoid Hydroplaning: Hydroplaning occurs when you drive your vehicle through standing water. To avoid hydroplaning, do not drive your car through standing water. Rather, skirt around the puddle of water or take an alternate route if it’s available.
3. Turn your Headlights on: Visibility is usually reduced in rainy conditions, and most drivers can hardly see more than a few feet in front of them. Turning on your headlights helps to improve visibility to an acceptable level. It also ensures that your vehicle is visible to other drivers.
4. Don’t Drive Too Closely Behind Other Vehicles: You want to keep a distance of several car lengths from the vehicle ahead of you, especially in heavy downpours. You want to be a suitable distance away if the driver in front of you suddenly loses control of their car, so put enough space between them.
5. Avoid Flood-Prone Areas: Certain places are known for being prone to flooding during the rains. Avoid these areas when you’re driving in the rain. Take an alternate route if the water levels cover the road’s markings. As little as 3 inches of water can spell trouble in situations like this. If there’s no alternative route, please turn back and continue your journey when the weather improves, but do not drive through deep water.
6. Ensure Your Car Has Proper Ventilation: Your vehicle’s windows and the windshield will get foggy because rain causes humidity levels to rise. Some cars come with a defrost button you can press to clear up your glasses. In the absence of that, turn on your AC or open your window a crack to lower the temperature inside your vehicle and reduce humidity.

There are safe driving practices you can use when driving in the rain. Here are some valuable tips for driving on a wet road:

Stick to driving in the middle lane when it’s raining. Water is more likely to pool on the outside lanes in rainy weather, so stay on the safe side and avoid driving on the left or right lane, especially if you notice that water is already pooling.

Don’t look directly into the glare of headlights from oncoming traffic. Keep both hands on the steering wheel and focus on the road ahead if you need to turn or make a quick maneuver. If you suddenly need to brake, please step on the brakes lightly.

If you can’t avoid driving in a puddle, don’t forget to tap your brake pedal lightly when you get out to remove water from the rotors.

Driving through water causes your vehicle to hydroplane and lose traction. You may lose control of the vehicle when the tires regain traction. Step on the brakes lightly as you drive out of the puddle to avoid this. Use your brakes as little as possible and don’t forget and use your brake lights to alert other drivers that you’re about to slow down. It is important to slow down when driving in rainy conditions for your safety and others, especially pedestrians.

One necessary safety precaution that you should never forget is that you need to stay alert and keep your focus on the road ahead of you. Avoid getting distracted by your mobile devices and the likes. Keep them far from you to aid 100 percent focus on driving. Keep an eye out for things that may make be hazardous. Here are things you can do:

• Carefully observe pedestrians and other drivers on the road. Use your rear-view and side mirrors judiciously to get a complete view of what’s going on around you.
• Do not eat and drive. Keep all snacks and food at a safe distance away from you. If you’re hungry and can’t wait, it’s better to pull over, eat and then continue driving.
• Sound distracts humans when trying to focus, so turn off your radio or music if it’s playing. The noise of the rainfall is already loud enough to drown out potential warning sounds. You don’t need the added noise from your car’s radio to distract you further.
• If you have passengers with you in the car, restrict conversation to the minimum or cease conversation totally.
• Calls are a distraction. It would help if you did not take calls while driving. Keep your phone away from you.

Final Thoughts

Driving safely in wet weather conditions is very important and can be achieved by following the tips for driving in this article. If possible, wait till the weather improves before driving out. Drive safely and drive below the speed limit. Your reduced speed may annoy many drivers. Give them room to pass. Above all else, ensure that your car is in perfect condition at all times.