EIGHT TIPS FOR SAFE DRIVING IN THE RAIN

Whether you’re a seasoned driver or a teen who just got their driver’s license, driving in rainy weather can pose challenging conditions. Explore these tips for safe driving in the rain to help you stay safe, avoid accidents, and navigate wet roads with confidence.

1. Plan your route. Before you hit the road, check navigation apps and local Sigalerts for road closures, accidents and other obstacles that may affect your drive. Keeping your radio on for up-to-date traffic reports can help while you are driving.

2. Leave earlier than usual to deal with slower traffic.

3. Slow down! When roads are wet, they get very slippery as oil and dust on the road’s surface have not been washed away.

4. On the highway, try to stay in the center lanes – pools of water tend to gather in the outside lanes. Hydroplaning is when a vehicle rides on water because the tires lose all contact with the road. If you start to hydroplane, stay calm and do not oversteer your car or stomp on the brakes. Try to keep the steering wheel straight and take your foot off the accelerator.

5. Don’t tailgate or drive too closely to the vehicle in front of you. The spray from their vehicles can affect your view. The extra space also gives you more time to adjust your speed and brake and avoid an accident.

6. Stay focused! Don’t forget that it is illegal to text or use a hand-held cell phone when driving. Always keep two hands on the wheel and two eyes on the road.

7. Turn on your vehicle’s headlights to see better and make it easier for other drivers to see your car. Defog your windows and keep your windshield wipers on.

8. Do not drive across a flooded road. Do not drive around official road closure signage to cross a flooded road. Find an alternate route.