April showers may eventually bring May flowers, but until that time, heavy rain mainly brings headaches to drivers everywhere. Your vision is compromised, your brakes are slower to respond, and your fellow drivers are more unpredictable. Needless to say, the chances of an accident increase significantly in stormy conditions.
That’s why we have your back with these tips for combating the elements this spring. Courtesy of CARMART, here’s how you can keep yourself safe while driving through heavy rain.
Make Sure Your Windshield Wipers Are Prepared to Go
Your windshield wipers are, of course, your main line of defense against severe rainfall. And if you haven’t swapped in a fresh pair this year, they’re probably worn out from combatting ice and snow over the course of the long winter. Make a service appointment with us ASAP and install a set of crisp wiper blades that won’t leave streaks and smears, potentially compromising your windshield’s visibility.
Avoid Heavy or Abrupt Braking
Every year, 75% of weather-related accidents occur on wet pavement – and 47% happen during rainfall. Get in the habit of changing your braking routine when driving in heavy rain, as it takes significantly longer to come to a complete stop. Guide your car into a gradual stop rather than braking abruptly by taking your foot off the accelerator earlier than you normally would. Then, apply light pressure to the brake pad to coast to a gentle halt.
Beware of Hydroplaning
Just as it takes longer to come to a complete stop on wet surfaces, hydroplaning is more likely to occur. Hydroplaning occurs when your tires lose traction, causing your car to drive on the surface of the water rather than the surface of the road – which, in turn, causes you to momentarily lose control. 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, 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 conditions) is not the time to aggressively tail a slow driver. 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 Delaware, 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 necessary for your driving purposes, but it also alerts other drivers as to your location in these chaotic conditions.
Anticipate the Unexpected
You never know when an April 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 it’s really bad, don’t hesitate to pull over on the side of the road and wait for the worst to pass.)
All you can do in events like these is keep your car as prepared as possible. Thankfully, here at CARMART, we can help you do just that. Schedule your service appointment today and let us prepare your tires, wiper blades, and more for the rainy season. And while you’re here, check out our expansive, diverse inventory, stocked full of quality vehicles. Set up your test drive today; from the Hyundai Sonata to the Ford Fusion, we’re sure to have the perfect companion for all the sunny days lying ahead.