7 Best Practices for Driving on Wet, Rainy Roads

Driving in the rain may be difficult and dangerous, whether there is a drizzle or a downpour.

According to the Federal Highway Administration of the U.S. Department of Transportation, the great majority of weather-related car accidents occur in the rain or on slick roads. The transportation authority says, slick roads contribute to close to 1.2 million car accidents annually. Here's how to drive safely in spring while maintaining control of your vehicle.

1. Get yourself and your vehicle ready for the road - Make sure your car can handle the rain. Your tires should be properly inflated — which allows them to have the most traction on the road — and have enough tread.
2. Make sure you can see and be seen - It’s harder to drive safely in the rain because of limited visibility — especially at night — so test your windshield wipers. They should clean the glass in one swipe, with no streaks. If they’re not performing well, you may need to purchase and install new wiper blades.
3. Keep your distance - In bad weather, drivers should leave more room between themselves and the car in front of them.
4. Avoid sudden movements - Make gradual speed or steering changes, and start slowing your vehicle by taking your foot off the gas earlier than you normally would before gently squeezing the brake pedal. 
5. Don’t use cruise control - Normally in wet conditions, lifting your foot off the accelerator transfers weight to the front of the car and slows you down enough to allow your vehicle to regain traction.
6. Slow down - Most people drive too fast on wet roads. Tires can lose contact with a wet road at just 35 miles an hour, making it more difficult to control the car. Reducing your speed maximizes safety.
7. Don’t panic - Hydroplaning — when your tires float on a layer of water instead of the rubber meeting the road — can be frightening. You want to gradually get traction back to those front tires, so lift your foot off the accelerator. That shifts more weight to the front end of the car and gets those tires back on the pavement

 Drive safe out there, especially when it is raining!