Safety is always the most important thing when on the road. These days, we place a lot of faith in our vehicles that they have the technology to keep us safe. But what about the person behind the wheel? Do you know what to do in various situations? By taking some time to learn how to be safe in different conditions, you can ensure a safe driving experience for you and your family, no matter where your trips take you. That’s why we’re going to talk a little today about driving in wet weather. Sure, we don’t always see a lot of wet weather, but if you’re on the road there’s a good chance at some point you’re going to run into some of the wet stuff. If that happens, what should you do?
1) Turn off the Cruise Control
Being safe means being in control, ready to react at a moment’s notice. When the cruise is on, your foot is off the gas, and you’ve added valuable seconds to your reaction time should something happen. In dry weather, that can be dangerous enough. When it’s wet, though,, and there’s the possibility of slipping and sliding? It gets even more hazardous.
2) Slow Down
A higher speed means more risk. Period. This is true in dry weather, and it’s equally (well, more) true in wet. The faster you go, the more chance of losing control, or losing seconds you might need to react to a situation.
3) Back off
Those precious seconds I mentioned before can be crucial. When it starts to rain (or, really, when the weather gets anything less than ideal) you want to back off and leave extra space between you and the car in front of you. That way, if they experience a problem, or if they have to slow down quickly for something in front of them, you have that extra time you need to respond.
4) Handle the Skids
If you find yourself skidding at some point, the natural reaction is to slam on the brakes. Don’t. Slamming on the brakes means your brakes can lock up, which makes you lose control. Instead, pump the brakes. This lets you slow down while maintaining traction. However, if your car is equipped with Anti-lock Brakes, then it’s actually okay to keep the brakes pedal down, since they will automatically do the pumping for you.
5) Drive Defensively
You probably had a driving instructor give you that old saying at some point, right? Well, there’s a reason this classic is still in style: it’s great advice. And nowhere is it more wise than in inclement weather. Even if you are doing everything right, you can’t assume the people around you are. So, stay alert, check your mirrors, and be ready to stop if you need to.