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5 TIPS FOR DRIVING SAFELY IN THE RAIN
American Pride Automotive • June 27, 2014
It’s that time of the year during which there is almost always a chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. This presents a challenge to drivers who are anxious about driving in the pouring rain, but there are steps you can take to make wet weather driving a breeze.
1. Drive at or Below the Speed Limit
Bad weather means giving yourself a little more time to get where you’re going because, legally, you have to slow down. It is extremely unsafe to speed in wet weather. Breathe and keep several car lengths between you and other vehicles.
2. Check Your Tires
Don’t take a chance on bare, or even moderately worn tires. Remember the penny test? Place a penny with Lincoln’s head down. If you can see the top of his head, you need new tires! In addition to posing a serious safety hazard in the rain, worn tires decrease gas mileage and place undue wear on your vehicle as a whole. If you need your tires replaced, call American Pride. We can help.
3. Know What to Do When You Hydroplane
We’ve all been there. Driving along in a rainstorm when suddenly, the car slides out of control. The worst thing you can do in this situation is panic and slame on the brakes. The best thing you can do is to sense where the vehicle is headed, try to identify open space in that direction, and continue to lightly accelerate.
4. Turn on Those Headlights
According to Virginia Law 46.2-1030 A., headlights must be illuminated in the event of “rain, smoke, fog, snow sleet, insufficient light, or any other unfavorable atmospheric condition., visibility is reduced to a degree whereby persons or vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 500 ft, and whenever windshield wipers are in use as a result of fog, rain, sleet, or snow.”
5. Pull Over If You Can’t See
No matter how skilled a driver you are, if you cannot see anything in front of you despite windshield wipers, please pull over until the rain passes. Accordingly, make sure your windshield wipers are in good shape by looking for cracks or dryness in the blades. Quality wipers can make all the difference in the ease of driving in the rain.
American Pride has three locations in Newport News, Williamsburg and Toano. We specialize in auto maintenance and repair, so please stop in. We’re ready to handle all of your auto care needs. One of the most important aspects of safety when driving in inclement weather is making sure that your vehicle is in good condition as a whole. Contact American Pride to schedule a tune-up or routine maintenance visit.
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You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
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