Being on the road when a sudden summer storm strikes can be an anxiety-inducing headache. Your vision is compromised, your brakes are slower to respond, and your fellow drivers become more unpredictable. Needless to say, the chances of an accident increase significantly in stormy conditions.
For the sake of your mental health, you’ll want to make your vehicle is prepared before a downpour begins.. Courtesy of New Motors, here's how you can keep yourself safe while driving through heavy rain.
Make Sure Your Windshield Wipers Are Ready to Go
Your windshield wipers are, of course, your main line of defense against severe rainfall. If you haven’t yet swapped in a fresh pair this year, chances are they're still worn out from combatting ice and snow this past winter. Schedule a service appointment with us and install a set of crisp wiper blades that won’t compromise your windshield’s visibility by leaving streaks and smears.
Avoid Heavy or Abrupt Braking
Every year, 75% of weather-related accidents occur on wet pavement – and 47% happen during rainfall. Change up your braking method when driving in heavy rain, as it takes significantly longer to come to a complete stop when the surface is wet. Take your foot off the accelerator earlier than you normally would and apply light pressure to the brake pad to coast to a gradual, gentle halt. After all, abrupt braking can lead to...
Beware of Hydroplaning
...hydroplaning! This momentary loss of vehicular control occurs when your tires lose traction, causing your car to drive on the surface of the water rather than the surface of the road. If you start to hydroplane, do these three things in order: remain calm, take your foot off the gas pedal, and steer in the direction you want to go. To avoid hydroplaning altogether, be on the lookout for standing water, steering around it rather than confronting it head-on.
Keep Your Distance from Other Cars
A thunderstorm (or really, any time) is not when you want to be aggressively tailing slow drivers. Since we’ve established your car’s reaction and braking times are longer in wet conditions, you’re risking a fender-bender situation just by being close to other vehicles. Double your normal following distance instead, leaving a wide proximity between yourself and your fellow commuters. This also helps avoid water being splashed onto your windshield by larger vehicles.
Leave Your Lights On
In Pennsylvania, it’s state law that you must have your headlights on while your windshield wipers are in use. But regardless of where you live, having your lights on during a storm is both common sense and common courtesy. Not only is the added visibility beneficial to your driving purposes, it also alerts other drivers as to your location in these chaotic conditions.
Anticipate the Unexpected
You never know when a summer storm is going to hit. If the sky looks ominous and you haven’t departed yet, it’s best to hold out in case the weather improves. But there will inevitably be times when you’re in the middle of a drive, the sky takes a turn for the worse, and the next exit isn’t for miles. (If driving seems especially dangerous, don’t hesitate to pull over on the side of the road and wait for the worst to pass.)
The best you can do is keep your car as prepared as possible. Thankfully, New Motors is here to help you do just that. Schedule your service appointment today and let us prepare your tires, wiper blades, and more for the rainy season. Whether your drive a reliable Subaru Legacy or a roomy and spacious Volkswagen Atlas, we'll make sure your vehicle is in pristine condition for all the sunny summer days that lie ahead.