6 Tips For Driving in Heavy Rain

Driving in heavy rain calls for extra caution on the road. While it’s always best practice to stay home during bad weather when possible, sometimes you have no choice but to get behind the wheel. For those times, follow these six tips for driving in heavy rain.

Slow Down

Wet roads mean longer stopping distances and increased risk of accidents. Ensure that you stay in control of your vehicle and have plenty of time to react to sudden traffic changes by reducing your speed in heavy rain. Remember that the posted speed limit is an upper limit based on ideal driving conditions, and you’ll typically need to drive slower than the speed limit in inclement weather.

Turn On Your Headlights

Visibility decreases dramatically in heavy rain. It’s not just your ability to see the road that’s affected, but also other drivers’ ability to see you. Turn on your headlights any time it’s raining to make sure that other drivers can identify all four corners of your vehicle. Use your low beam headlights, so you don’t accidentally blind other drivers.

Give Yourself More Space

You should always increase your following distance in the rain, and you should give yourself even more space when the rain is severe. Rear-end collisions are the most common accidents, and the risk is even greater in heavy rain due to decreased visibility and increased stopping distance. Keep at least five car lengths between you and the car in front of you, and don’t be afraid to give even more space if conditions call for it.

Avoid Standing Water

Driving through standing water increases the odds of hydroplaning and creates an opportunity for water to enter your engine. Both of these are bad news, so avoid standing water when possible. If you’re on a multi-lane road, drive in the middle lane, as it’s higher than the outer lanes and less likely to accumulate water. If you do find yourself hydroplaning, let off the accelerator and gently steer in the direction you want to go. Don’t slam on your brakes or jerk your steering wheel, as this may cause you to lose control. Never drive through water if you can’t see the road markings underneath, or you risk getting stuck or swept away.

Keep Your Tires in Good Condition

A car with under-inflated tires or worn tire tread is at greater risk of an accident. If your tires aren’t in good shape, you’ll be more likely to hydroplane and you’ll have trouble stopping in time on wet roads. Make sure you’re not caught unprepared in a storm by ensuring that your tires have adequate tread and are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommendation.

Pull Over When Necessary

Sometimes a storm is simply greater than what your car can safely handle. If your wipers can’t keep up with the rain, if water is accumulating on the roadway, or if you’re having trouble maintaining control of your vehicle, find a safe place to pull over and wait out the worst of the storm.

Rain is a top cause of automobile accidents in the United States, and it’s important to not underestimate the power of heavy rains. Follow these tips to improve your driving in heavy rain, and remember to always stay off the road in unsafe conditions.

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