Californians are typically more used to drought than heavy rain. So overall, our skills at piloting our cars and trucks during periods of heavy rain are not as well practiced as drivers in states where rain is far more frequent. So, here are some things you should think about when getting behind the wheel in the next few days/weeks while the “Pineapple Express” dumps tons of rain on our state.
1) Do not try to drive through/across standing water – even if it only looks a few inches deep, you can be swept away. Also, you may not see how deep it actually is.
2) Turn on your lights – even in full daylight. Daytime running lights to do turn on your tail lights. In the rain, it is good to have your tail lights illuminated to avoid being rear ended.
3) Know how to react to hydroplaning – Hydroplaning is what happens when your tires are moving over a wet surface too quickly there is insufficient time to channel the moisture away from the center of the tire. The car “floats” on top of the water and the driver loses the ability to steer. Typically, it occurs when the car is moving faster than 50 MPH. If you feel like the car is no longer fully in contact with the road, REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR and you’ll find the rubber will regain contact with the road.
4) Leave extra braking distance – When the road is at its slickest, particularly right after the onset of a new rain, it makes safety sense to leave extra cushion of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you. It will take your car longer to stop in wet road conditions.
5) Leave earlier to avoid having to drive quickly – When road conditions are compromised, it is wise to leave for your destination earlier than usual. Traffic is likely to be slower and there are bound to be accidents that make it even worse. A stressed driver is more prone to accidents. So leave time to drive slowly and arrive safely.
With the rising cost of Auto Insurance in California, we must all do what we can to reduce our risk and keep claims from driving our premiums up. Stay safe out there!