Safety tips for driving in the rain include using your headlights, reducing your speed if necessary, knowing how to steer in a slide, and preparing to brake gradually.
Understanding these tips is essential, especially at the beginning of the year. For many parts of the country, January marks the start of the worst weather that winter can bring, not December. If you live in California, you might be in for a rainy season that makes the roads in your hometown unsafe to drive on.
You can speak with a Los Angeles car accident lawyer to learn how weather-related crashes are typically handled under California law.
Use Your Headlights When Driving in the Rain
You should turn on your headlights whenever it is raining or overcast. Using your lights makes it easier for other vehicles to see you in a storm.
Wondering Which Lights to Use in the Rain or What Lights to Use When Raining?
You should use just your regular headlights when driving in the rain. Fog lights are generally unnecessary in light rain, but they may help in heavy rain or fog when visibility is significantly reduced. Avoid using them unless conditions require it.
Should You Use High Beams in the Rain?
Don’t use your high beams because they can blind other drivers and yourself as the bright lights reflect off sheets of rain.
Reduce Your Speed When Driving in Rain
As a general rule, you should drive at least five miles per hour slower than you normally would when it is raining. The heavier the rain and the denser the traffic, the more you should slow down, even if it means driving below the speed limit.
Adjusting your speed for wet pavement and road conditions can reduce the odds of a crash.
Speeding Can Result in Accidents
Driving too quickly in the rain can cause your vehicle to hydroplane, meaning the tires are actually riding on water on the road rather than the road itself. Depending on the car you are driving, hydroplaning can happen anywhere between 35 mph and 50 mph.
Driving slowly can protect you and your fellow drivers.
(310) 526-8383Focus on Steering During a Slide
If you lose control of your vehicle because of heavy rain, you might slide one way or another. To get out of a slide safely, take your foot off the gas and don‘t slam the brakes.
Instead, try to coast and use the steering wheel to smoothly turn toward the direction you want to go. With luck and skill, your car should eventually right its course safely.
Brake Gradually When Driving in the Rain
Speaking of braking safely, hard braking events are dangerous, especially in the rain. Apply the brake gradually whenever you come to a stop and maintain a safe stopping distance. Pay close attention to the traffic in front of you, too, so you know when a stop is coming up.
Maintaining a safe following distance on wet roadways can reduce the odds of an accident.
(310) 526-8383Other Safety Tips for Driving in the Rain
If you must drive in heavy rain, make sure that you plan your route. If you know the roads you are driving on and which ones you want to take while driving, then you will be less likely to make sudden braking or turns that can increase your risk of losing control in the rain.
If the weather is especially bad, you can also postpone your trip. When the rain is heavy, there’s standing water, and the roads are congested, the best way to avoid a car accident caused by the rain is not to drive at all. Postpone your trip to the next sunny day if it isn’t essential enough to brave the inclement weather.
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(310) 526-8383 What to Avoid When Driving in the Rain
You need to avoid certain activities when driving in poor weather to reduce the odds of a collision.
Avoid Standing Water When Driving
You might get excited to drive through a puddle of water because it causes a big splash. But you should never ford across water without knowing its depth. If a puddle is deep enough, your engine could flood as you drive through it, causing you to stall and get stuck.
Also, you should never attempt to cross moving water, even if it looks shallow. Find another route around. Flood water can easily sweep a vehicle away, so you should take these conditions seriously when driving on a rainy day.
Don’t Use Cruise Control
Using cruise control is convenient when you’re on a long drive, but it isn’t something you should do when it is raining. It can take too long to react to a change in traffic if you’re using cruise control. Refrain from using it so you stay in better control of your vehicle.
Put the Smartphone Down
Distracted driving and the rain are a recipe for disaster. Do not use your smartphone while your vehicle is in operation, including when stopped at a red light.
Talk to Us to Learn More About Driving in Rainy Weather
Are you looking for safety tips for driving in the rain in California? Our team at Omega Law Group Injury & Accident Attorneys can give you more tips and step in to explain potential legal options related to insurance claims or lawsuits after a crash involving poor weather conditions.
We hope you and your family stay safe on the road, no matter the weather, but we’re here to explain potential legal options that may be available after a collision.
