With spring right around the corner, many drivers may face rainy conditions while on the road. Taking the proper precautions is crucial, both to preserve your safety and the safety of your passengers, as well as to ensure other drivers and pedestrians remain safe on the road. Accordingly, these rainy weather driving tips are a must when faced with spring showers and even cloudy winter days.
Adust your speed
The posted speed limit on the roads on which you travel designates the safe speed of travel for ideal driving conditions. Inclement weather, including rain and snow, decreases the driving conditions on the road. As a result, it may no longer be safe to drive the speed limit when conditions have diminished. In this case, department of transportation workers recommend that you decrease your speed so you can retain greater control over your vehicle. This is crucial, as slick roads often diminish tire traction.
Maintain a safe distance
In the same token, leave ample distance between yourself and other vehicles to prevent a rear-end accident from occurring. In general, there should be a three- to four-second window between you and other vehicles. In wet weather, you should increase this window to at least five seconds. The greater the distance between you and other vehicles, the easier it will be for you to stop in the event an unexpected road hazard pops up.
Make sure your car is ready
Your tires play a huge role in traction, whether the road is wet or dry. Before spring arrives, check your tire tread for obvious wear. To check, take a quarter and place it within the tread upside down. The tread should reach above Washington’s head. If it does not, you need to replace the tires. Also, make sure you properly inflate your tires, which increases traction even fu
