Rain Driving Tips

Always check your tires before you hit the road. Make sure you do the following routine maintenance:

1. Keep your tires properly inflated. The correct air pressure for your tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and can be found on the vehicle door edge, door-post, and glove box door or fuel door. It is also listed in the owner's manual. The number listed on the side of the tire is not the recommended air pressure for your tire — it is the maximum air pressure for the tire. You should check your tire's air pressure at least once a month.
2. Also, check the tire's tread depth to determine if one's tires needs to be removed from service. To check the tire's depth, insert a penny heads-down into the tread. If you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln's head, your tires should be replaced.

As rain falls, it mixes with grime and oil on the road creating the potential for slick conditions that can contribute to loss of traction. The best way to avoid this is to slow down. Driving at a slower pace allows more of the tire's tread to make contact with the road, which helps traction.

Skids can happen even to the most cautious drivers. If your car does skid, remember not to slam on the brakes. Do not pump the brakes if you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Instead, apply firm, steady pressure to the brakes and steer the car in the direction of the skid.

It takes about three times longer to brake on wet roads than it does on dry roads. As more distance is required to brake, it is important not to tailgate. Keep more than two car lengths between you and the vehicle in front of you.

1. Avoid using your brakes in wet conditions. Whenever possible, slow down by taking your foot off the accelerator.
2. Turn your headlights on, even in a light rain. Not only do they help you see the road, but they'll help other drivers see you. If your car has daytime running lights, you should turn them on so vehicles behind you can see you better.

1. Wet-weather driving demands gentle use of all the main controls — steering, clutch, brake and accelerator — and a larger allowance for errors and emergencies.
2. When you begin a journey in the rain, your shoes will be wet and liable to slip off the pedals. Scuff the soles on the rubber matting or carpeting of the car before you start the engine.
3. All drivers should regularly check that their headlights, rear lights, brake lights and turn signals are working properly.

Aquaplaning happens when the water in front of your tires builds up faster than your car's weight can push it out of the way. The water pressure causes your car to rise up and slide on a thin layer of water between your tires and the road. At this point, your car can be completely out of contact with the road, and you may begin to skid or drift out of your lane, or even off the road.

1. Aquaplaning can still happen, but to help maintain contact with the road, keep your tires properly inflated, maintain good tread on your tires and replace them when necessary, slow down when roads are wet and stay away from puddles.
2. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of you.
3. If you find yourself losing traction, do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw your car into a skid. Ease your foot off the accelerator until the car slows and you can feel the road again. If your car has ABS, then brake normally; the car's computer will mimic a pumping action when necessary. If you do not have ABS, brake gently with light pumping actions.

Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades, allowing an almost continuous sheet of water to flow over the windshield. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. If the roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible and wait until the storm passes. Keep your headlights on and turn on your hazard warning lights to alert other drivers.

The first rains always make the roads the most difficult to drive on, because mud and oil on the dry road combines with the water and forms a rather slippery layer. Drivers are likely to experience reduced control, and are cautioned to be extra careful for the first half-hour after it begins to rain.

Use extra caution when passing other vehicles. Turn your lights on so that other vehicles can see you more easily. Always use turn signals.

If you have driven through standing water deep enough to get your brake pads wet, apply the brakes lightly to dry them.

Stop at least every couple of hours or every hundred miles to rest.