{"id":14439,"date":"2023-06-12T10:54:43","date_gmt":"2023-06-12T10:54:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gotire.com\/?p=14439"},"modified":"2024-05-03T08:30:56","modified_gmt":"2024-05-03T08:30:56","slug":"safety-tips-for-driving-in-the-rain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gotire.com\/blog\/safety-tips-for-driving-in-the-rain\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay Safe Driving in the Rain\u201410 Essential Tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Driving in the rain is almost inevitable, especially if you live in states like Oregon or New York, where it rains almost half the days of the year! While the rain is great for your garden, it can be hazardous for all of us drivers, increasing accident rates. Wet weather can decrease visibility, make it harder to control your vehicle, and cause hydroplaning. To help you stay safe driving in the rain, our experts at GoTire have put together the 10 most important pieces of advice for driving in rainy conditions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Our experts have put together 10 essential pieces of advice for driving in the rain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Rainy Day Driving Tips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you get caught in a sudden shower or have to drive after a downpour, there are a few key things you can do to keep yourself safe on the roads, from slowing down to giving more space to other cars. These rain-driving tips will help prevent any weather-related accidents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Turn on your headlights<\/h3>\n\n\n
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It’s easy to forget: turn the headlights on when driving in the rain!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Wet weather conditions can really decrease visibility, making you harder to spot by other road users. So one of the first things you should do when it starts to rain is to turn on your headlights or fog lights (especially important in heavy rain). But don’t turn on your high beams as they can reflect off the wet road making it harder for you to see the road ahead as well as blinding other drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having your headlights on will make you much more visible to other drivers. Plus, it’s a law in many states that you must turn on your headlights when your wipers are on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Use your windshield wipers<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Obvious? And essential! Windshield wipers have to be on even in light rain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This one should be obvious, but it’s also absolutely essential\u2014windshield wipers are vital for allowing you to see the road in front of you, so remember to turn them on as soon as it starts to rain\u2014even light rain. And remember to check your wiper blades regularly to make sure they’re clearing your windshield properly and not leaving streaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Turn off the cruise control and slow down<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Turn the cruise control off to avoid aquaplaning <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

If it’s raining, the road surface will be wet, reducing the traction your tires have with the road. This increases the risk of skidding, but if you drive slower this risk will be reduced. Driving more slowly also gives you more time to react if anything happens in front of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As well as slowing down, you should also turn off your cruise control. Avoiding cruise control is important because if you start to hydroplane or skid, your vehicle’s reaction time may be slower as your cruise control takes a second or two to disengage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Keep your distance from other drivers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Always keep a safe distance from other drivers when visibility is reduced!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You might remember this from your driver’s ed classes, but stopping distances increase on wet roadways. You should always give plenty of space to the vehicle ahead, but this is even more true in wet weather conditions\u2014increase the following distance or number of car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you\u2014make sure there are at least 3 seconds between you both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaving plenty of space between you and the vehicle ahead also reduces the amount of spray from the road that ends up on your windshield, so more distance equals better visibility too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Avoid hitting the brake pedal too hard<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Take it easy on breaking! Tap the pedal gently a few times to alert the car behind you<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As we mentioned above, stopping distances increase in wet conditions, and you should also avoid braking too hard. When driving on wet roads, you should avoid hitting the brake pedal too hard as it can cause you to lose traction and skid or hydroplane. If you begin hydroplaning, don’t slam on the brakes either, as sudden movements like that can increase the skid. Instead, take your foot off the gas and turn the steering wheel lightly in the direction you want to go. And if you need to brake too, only do so very gently and gradually to avoid making the skid worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you need to slow down, we recommend tapping the brake pedal gently a few times to turn on the brake lights and alert the car behind you that you’re slowing down in plenty of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another useful braking tip is to gently apply your brakes after driving through deep-standing water, as this can get lodged in your brakes, causing them to seize up. Braking gently will clear the water so your brakes work properly when required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Fill your tank<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Having enough gas in your tank is always a good idea, especially in bad weather<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While this may not be the first thing that comes to mind, it’s always a good idea to make sure you have enough gas in your tank in bad weather conditions. You’re more likely to get stuck in traffic jams due to accidents or drivers going more slowly, and you don’t want to run out of gas if that’s the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Prepare Your Car Before Driving in the Rain<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All the driving tips in the rain we talk about above should prepare you for sudden showers and inclement weather, but what can you do in advance to make driving in the rain as safe as possible? Here are a few safety precautions you can have in place at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Check your tires<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Always check the condition of your tires before driving!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

It’s always important to make sure your tires are in good condition, but that’s doubly so when driving in the rain. The most important factor is to make sure your tires have enough tread depth to handle wet roads. While the minimum legal requirement for tread depth in most states is 2\/32″, and this might be adequate in dry conditions, we recommend you maintain at least 4\/32″ if you are ever likely to be driving on wet roadways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research has found that tires with less than 4\/32″ are much more dangerous than those with more tread depth. at less than 4\/32″, around 50% of friction may be lost, which is very dangerous. This greatly increases the risk of hydroplaning, which can very easily lead to accidents. So to help avoid hydroplaning, we strongly recommend replacing your tires if they have 4\/32″ or less of tread depth remaining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing you can do to make sure your tires make the right amount of contact with the wet pavement is to check your tire pressure regularly and ensure it meets your manufacturer’s recommendations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you need new tires, check out GoTire, where you’ll discover the best prices on top name-brand tires, all with free shipping using FedEx, straight to your door.
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8. Replace your wiper blades<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Make sure the windshield wipers are in good condition before you get stuck in a major downpour<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

While you might not notice the condition of your wiper blades if you live somewhere that doesn’t often get rain, it’s important to check them and make sure they are in good condition before you get stuck in a major downpour. They are essential for maintaining visibility when it starts to rain. So, if your wiper blades are leaving streaks or not clearing the windshield properly, it’s time to replace them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We recommend you change your wiper blades at least once a year\u2014or if you live somewhere with cold winters and lots of ice and snow, you should change them twice a year, at the start of the summer and winter seasons. It’s also important to note that the blades of your wipers can harden up and become inflexible if they are left for a long period of time\u2014so if your car hasn’t been used for a while, especially if it’s been parked outside, check your wipers when you start to use it again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Treat your windshield<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This might not be for everyone, but if you’re an expert rain driver, like the original Rainman, Ayrton Senna, and regularly drive in bad weather and rain, you might want to consider treating your windshield with a water-repellent coating. Products like Aquapel<\/a> will help improve visibility in the rain by causing water to bead up and roll off your windshield, making it easier to see the road ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Maintain your air conditioning and heating<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Avoid fogging by properly maintaining your A\/C<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

When it’s wet outside, you probably notice that your car windows get fogged up much more quickly, making it hard to see outside. Using your ventilation system, air conditioning, and heating can help clear up your windows, pulling out the moisture that creates the fog and dehumidifying your vehicle’s interior. So it’s important to make sure your A\/C and heating are working properly for those rainy days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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