Anyone driving in Bellingham anytime other than a typical July or August day is liable to encounter some wet roads. Across America, 1.2 million crashes yearly include wet pavement as a factor. To keep yourself, your passengers, and other drivers safe, here are some tips for driving in the rain:
- See and be seen. Wiper blades that don’t properly clear your line of sight endanger a safe drive. Blades should not leave streaks and should clear the glass in a single swipe. Be sure your car’s exterior lighting works properly. Headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn signals are your way of communicating with other drivers. If these signals don’t work, you can’t tell fellow drivers what you’re doing. Turn on your headlights. A good rule is that when the wiper comes on, so do the lights.
- Your tires’ tread depth and inflation and very important to keeping your car under control. For more information on tire tread, check this previous article which includes tips on how to check your tires. Make sure you gauge their air pressure monthly. Checking them after you’ve driven doesn’t give you an accurate reading, so take a moment before you head out.
- Avoid cruise control. While it’s handy in dry conditions, when roads are wet, drivers face an increased risk of losing control. When in cruise control, you don’t have available that reflex of slowing down immediately by bringing your foot off the gas pedal. Sudden braking can put your car in a spin. Bottom line, avoiding cruise control gives you more options for handling a potential risky situation.
Even if you’ve taken every caution, no driver is immune from going into a skid on wet roads. For more advice on what to do if you hydroplane, click here.
For more tips on driving in wet weather, visit these sites:
State Farm’s tips for driving safely in the rain
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