Driving in a downpour can be brutal--and very unpredictable. How many times have you hit a patch of water and felt the wheels slide out from under you in a split second? Suddenly your heart's in your mouth and you start wondering when you last checked the treads on your tires. Or, your wipers are no match for the sheets of rain that are blanketing your windshield, and you kick yourself for leaving behind those new wiper blades at the checkout of the hardware store. Sitting in a ditch is not the time to ponder morosely the irresponsible speed you were going, nor when the hood of your car is jacked up into the trunk of the car that suddenly slammed on its breaks ahead of you. Worse yet, you're that guy on the nightly news who's been swept down a river because you just had to plough through that harmless puddle that turned out to be a rushing stream on its way to Lake Ontario.
To save yourself the kicks delivered to your backside after the fact, here are some tips for safe driving in the rain that are simple and practical--some are pretty obvious, but others, like numbers 2, 8, and 9 are perhaps not as well known.
1. Slow Down. It's easier to control the car when you're driving under the speed limit.
2. Stay toward middle of the lane. Roads are built in an arch (called a crown) that allows water to flow off them to the sides. Therefore, avoid the sides of the roads and stay more toward the middle.
3. Don't follow vehicles too closely. Keep the three-second rule: If you can't count to three from the time the vehicle in front of you passes a lamp post to the time you pass it, you're driving too close.
4. Avoid Using Your Brakes. Simply take your foot off the gas and decelerate to slow down. Hitting your brakes not only may cause you to skid, but can set off a chain reaction that could cause others to hit their brakes in alarm.
5. Turn Your Headlights On. Even in light rain, foggy, or overcast conditions, it's good to have your headlights, and rear lights, on to enhance your visibility and others who are driving past, behind, and around your vehicle.
6. Keep Your Tires Inflated Correctly. Maintain a good tread, and don't put off replacing old tires. Stay away from puddles.
7. Pull Over. If the rain has caused zero-visibility, don't be a hero and continue through it--no one will be impressed if you've launched your vehicle into a ditch or something worse. Pull over, chill out, and hit the road again when the rain has subsided.
8. Avoid Water Flowing Across the Road. You know that stream scenario presented above? You can totally avoid it: if you're driving and see a stream-looking flow of water rushing across the road, stay away from it, or just pull the car over and find an alternate route if possible. Such streams of water often hide bottomless potholes or nails, broken glass, and other kinds of debris that could harm your vehicle or its tires.
9. Keep Cruise Control Off: The last thing you want is to panic in the downpour and are fumbling with the cruise control lever or hit your break out of habit only to start into an uncontrollable slide.
10. Stay Home. That bag of chips will be no less than a regrettable decision when you've broken the bag open waiting for the tow-truck to haul your car to the garage, because you just couldn't wait till the rain subsided to go out to the store. When it's pouring outside, it's best to just stay in and watch it from the safety of your home.
11. Stay Informed. Before heading home from work or out for a little road trip, check the city weather cables for warnings of extreme weather.
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