A little bit of rain can be a good thing, particularly if you live in an arid region that stands to benefit from the occasional downpour. Rain waters our crops, keeps our lawns alive, and can even be fun to play in. However, driving in the rain can be a stressful or even dangerous experience. Particularly for drivers unaccustomed to dealing with rain, the weather can significantly increase the number of collisions. So, is driving in the rain dangerous?
Possible Hazards When Driving in the Rain
Rain can make your daily commute more dangerous for several reasons. When driving in poor weather, you may notice:
- Reduced traction between your vehicle`s tires and the road. Under normal circumstances, both the surface of the roadway and your car`s tires serve to ground your vehicle and allow you to drive in a predictable manner. When water pools up on the surface of the road, it reduces the amount of traction your tires have. If your tires are worn or the rainfall is extremely heavy, you may even face the possibility of hydroplaning.
- Decreased visibility. Heavy rainfall is often accompanied by fog that serves to reduce a driver`s visibility. In some cases, driving through rain and fog may be similar to driving at night. You may be unable to see other drivers or potential hazards, thus increasing your risk of a crash.
- Roadway hazards. Heavy rain can either cause or obscure other hazards that may pose a risk to you and your vehicle. You may notice new or worsening potholes and large debris in the road. In other situations, you might find yourself unable to see a disabled vehicle on the highway.
- Dangerous driving. Rain does not only impact your ability to safely control your motor vehicle, it also affects all of the other drivers on the road. When other drivers do not properly adjust their driving style to compensate for decreased visibility and reduced roadway traction, a crash can occur. When a collision is directly caused by one person`s negligence, you may be able to recover financial damages, but this will provide little solace in the moment!
Is it Possible to Improve Your Visibility When Driving in the Rain?
Depending on the prevalent weather conditions, you may be able to improve your visibility during heavy rainfall, so you can better react to changing roadway conditions. Even if you`re driving during the daytime, you should ensure that your headlights are on. Contrary to popular belief, you should not use your high beam headlights. Your high beam lights may temporarily blind or distract motorists traveling in the opposite direction. They may even impact your own visibility negatively, if your headlights reflect off pooling water or the surface of a wet road.
Tips for Driving Safely in Poor Weather
If the weather is particularly bad, it may be wise to postpone any non-essential trips. Running a quick errand may not be worth the inconveniences and potential hazards of driving in bad weather. In some cases, you may not be able to put off your travels to a later date. When you must drive in the rain, you may benefit from:
- Planning for more time on the road. During even light rain, traffic tends to move slower than usual, particularly on highways. This is actually a good thing, as speeding in poor weather is one of the leading causes of car crashes. If you expect to drive in poor weather, leave yourself additional time to get to your destination so that you don`t feel the need to rush.
- Being careful with braking. Wet roads have less traction, which can cause your vehicle to slide if you brake too heavily. There`s also a chance that your brakes could get water in them, which could make it impossible to stop your car at all. When driving in the rain, increase your following distance so that you will not need to slam on your brakes.
- Not using cruise control. One might wonder whether it`s safer to drive at a set, predictable speed in poor weather. However, cruise control may actually make your drive more risky. If your car begins to hydroplane while cruise control is active, the vehicle may begin to accelerate, which can be incredibly dangerous to you and other drivers. You also want to have your feet on the pedals at all times when driving in less-than-ideal conditions.
- Avoiding standing water. When possible, avoid any large puddles that have gathered on the roadway. If you must drive through standing water, slow down so that you reduce your risk of hydroplaning. You should never attempt to drive through fast-moving water of an unknown depth, such as flooding over a low-lying road. It takes just two feet of water to carry away most motor vehicles, including large pickup trucks and SUVs.
Always Drive Cautiously in the Rain
Whenever you find yourself driving in heavy rain or fog, slow down and drive with caution. Practicing defensive driving and respecting the prevalent weather conditions protects you and all of the other drivers on the road.