When it comes to driving safely, rain has the potential to pose a considerable number of safety hazards. When a heavy rain hits, it becomes immediately harder to see, and wet roads pose different risks at different points in time. For these reasons, amongst others, you have to adjust your driving habits to fit the weather within which you’re driving…
Heavy Rain & Driving: Practicing Safe Driving Habits
Turn your headlights on, but no high beams
While driving in the rain, you always want to turn your headlights on, even during the day. On one hand, this will help you see better. But even more so, driving with your lights on will help other drivers see you, especially if there is a heavy rain. When it’s coming down hard, rain, fog, and mist can blur our view, making it hard to see other vehicles. However, headlights can alert drivers and help them identify you.
However, it’s very important that you don’t turn your high beams on. During heavy rain, high beams often make it harder to see because the water reflects the light. Furthermore, you may not see other vehicles approaching in time to turn them off. Then, they’ll become blinded by the rain as well as your bright lights.
If you hydroplane…
When heavy rain accumulates on the road, there is always the potential for hydroplaning. In that case, it’s important to know how to react, and come back from it. First, you want to ease off of the accelerator. However, you don’t want to slam on the brakes. Instead, try to continue driving straight ahead with both hands on the wheel.
If you feel the need to try and brake, tap the brakes lightly a few times to reduce speed and regain control. Unfortunately, this is one of the major hazards in rainy weather driving. It’s important to hold the wheel steady and straight until you regain control of the vehicle.
Never Use Cruise Control…
Cruise control tends to allow us to ease back and take some of our focus off of driving. But for rainy weather driving, you need to remain alert. In addition, cruise control can cause you to lose control if you hydroplane. The loss of traction may cause the vehicle to speed up while using cruise control. Therefore, if the rain kicks in, take your vehicle out of cruise control and regain full control.
Heavy rain encourages you to practice safe driving habits by necessity. However, if you practice them on a daily basis, then you can continue on as you always do. As a driver, staying alert is the biggest safety precaution you can take.