how to drive car in rain

Last Updated: May 7, 2020 You might not need the extra light to see what's happening in front of you, but that's not why you should have your lights on. Tires should be replaced when the tread gets to 4/32 of an inch. Reduce your speed and leave more space between you and the car in front. No. Just by looking at the puddle, it’s hard to tell how deep it really is. To get where you need to go safely when it's raining, it's best to plan ahead and adjust your habits behind the wheel. Follow these tips to help you stay safe while driving in heavy rain. Find out if they're really ready. Driving in rain is … Part 1 of 2: Getting your car ready for the rain Their large tires will throw water at you, making it hard to see. Heavy rain, fog, and water spray can also make it more difficult to see. To improve your visibility:[1] X Research source Clean the inside and outside of the windows regularly to remove dirt, dust, mud, smoke, fingerprints, grime, and other materials. It takes longer to stop when the road is wet. You can normally see the water, but you should always be careful when driving on a road after it's been raining. Basically, if it's foggy or raining, you need to have your headlights on. Here are six things you can do to drive safely in the rain: 1 Check your tires If necessary, use windshield washer fluid … You don’t want to risk driving through it and striking a deep pothole or splashing water up into the car’s electrical system. Driving in heavy rains is no time to test the limits of your connected car – do that in your driveway. Can I optimize my traction in the rain by avoiding driving in the tracks of the vehicle I am following? One can always wait till rain reduces or stops. "It's a question of speed, water depth, and tread depth. Not being able to stop as quickly in the rain is another reason why it's so important to leave extra space between your car and the one in front of you. Apparently, we automatically adjust our expectations and driving style in snow, fog or ice, but not so much in rain. Leaving space includes leaving an opening where you can escape quickly if necessary. Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. New tires generally have about 10/32 of an inch of tread. Deploy all your attention and energy to safely operating your vehicle, and driving defensively, to anticipate other drivers’ moves and mistakes. First of all, your headlights will make it easier for other drivers to see your car. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 333,160 times. Summer rain, particularly after a prolonged dry spell, can create hazardous driving conditions. Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. 1. For some future cars there will be a means to detect the amount of tread on the tire (a bald tire is worse in the rain). The US Department of Transportation states that there are approximately 900,000 car crashes every year from wet pavement. Other things that can reduce your visibility include the glare from other car lights and lightning. Although wet roads are their own problem, there are other liquids that can ruin your drive. Rain reduces visibility on the road, making it harder to see approaching cars and judge distance. Slowing down takes longer when it's slippery, and that's why it's so important to drive according to the conditions. Clean the inside and outside of the windows regularly to remove dirt, dust, mud, smoke, fingerprints, grime, and other materials. The car will, as a result of simply not knowing, maintain speed and throttle no matter the conditions. This article has been viewed 333,160 times. Definitely will help! It can detect the tire pressure as one means of readiness. There are lots of things you can do to make driving in the rain safer, including being prepared by making sure your car is ready and ensuring you can always see properly. Is your kid begging for a dog? Turn on the rear defroster, and open the windows if necessary to increase the airflow. Keep the light covers on your car clean so that dust and dirt don't reduce their efficacy. Driving in the rain can be both scary and dangerous, and it’s important to be cautious when the weather is wet. Driving in rain, especially at night, can pose some serious challenges. Our Expert Agrees: If you're driving in wet conditions, it's important to leave plenty of space between the cars around you. Rain and wet roads make it harder to keep traction. Watch for deep puddles and think about how old your tires are. Turn it off if too cold, if you feel satisfied or warm, leave it on. Stay away from large trucks and buses. Moving water is too deep if you cannot see the ground. The speed limit is whatever the posted speed limit is. References This could result in the car hydroplaning and possibly losing control. Avoid the edges of the road Simon Miyerov is the President and Driving Instructor for Drive Rite Academy, a driving academy based out of New York City. Turn on your defrost to prevent condensation from impeding your vision. Are there any special tires for driving in heavy rain conditions? Since water tends to pool along the sides of the road, use the middle lanes when you can. When it rains the traction or road falls. If possible, downshift to slow down without braking. Take your time. Simon has over 8 years of driving instruction experience. Rain reduces the effectiveness of your headlights, causes poor visibility, and less traction. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. "All the oil, gas, diesel, antifreeze, ATF, and whatnot that gets dropped or spilled on the road all year floats on the water and can make a slick road slicker." Wet roads can reduce your traction by about a third, so you should also reduce your speed by a third. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. There are lots of safety measures which you should abide by to make driving in the rain safer, The most important to start with is being prepared by making sure your car is ready and ensuring clear visibility. So, when you're driving in the rain, take control of the vehicle yourself. No, it is not any safer, you should still slow down. Keep your windows clean and clear. If you do these two things, and follow these guidelines, you’ll be just fine in the rain. Many tips I wasn't aware of. If you're driving a car without ABS, pulsing the brake pedal to prevent the wheels from locking up is the safest way to come to a stop. If you need to stop quickly, try pulsing your brakes to avoid losing traction. Ceasing any conversations you were having with passengers. Driving in the rain can be both scary and dangerous, and it's important to take wet weather seriously when you're on the road. Turning off the radio, and ignoring your cell phone and other electronic devices. Turn on your headlights so that other drivers can see you and so you increase your own visibility. While driving in rain, should the AC be on or off? Tips for Driving in the Rain: 5 Pieces of Advice You May Not Have Thought of, If you have ABS, don't be afraid to slam on the brakes, Be extra-cautious when driving in the first rain after a dry spell, Turn your headlights on—daytime running lights aren't enough. Keeping your eyes on the road at all times. "If you slam on the brakes, stay slammed on the brakes," he says. If you encounter these types of road flooding, turn around and find another route. Sometimes, giving your car a quick inspection is enough to keep you safe while driving or to alert you to any potential problems before you’re stuck in the rain. How much should I slow down in heavy rain? Also, one of the most dangerous times to drive can be soon after it begins to rain. That's a holdover from pre-ABS days. Anytime driving conditions are less than ideal, such as during rainfall, be sure to adjust your speed appropriately. But most importantly, you have to drive according to the conditions, and adjust a few of your habits to avoid sliding, skidding, or being involved in a collision. The California Vehicle Code (CVC) states that when wipers are in continuous use, or when visibility is less than 1,000 feet, your headlights have to be on. The gaps in the tire are for channeling water out to find traction on a wet surface. Rates of accidents, commute times, and tempers all go through the proverbial roof. When you do need to stop, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down, and brake gradually to avoid hydroplaning. Get Your Car Rain-Ready: Tire tread is key, says Bill Van Tassel, Ph.D., manager of driver training programs for the AAA national office in Orlando, Florida. MotorTrend's technical director Frank Markus still advises a bit of caution and a watchful eye. Drive in the middle lane. The first tip to drive in rain would be not to drive if you don’t feel confident enough. ", "We are going on a long trip, so l want some safety tips. ", "Really fantastic and helpful safety tips for rainy day driving. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. "This article is really useful for me because it has a lot of important information about different, and common, "I love your all articles about driving, they are the best I've ever seen! Hard braking and turning can cause your car to skid. Heavy rain will always make it harder to drive to some degree, and although the technology in cars is always improving to help prevent accidents it still mainly comes down to the style of the driver. Don't use cruise control in wet weather. This way you can pick a safe path across. If your taillights are always on, it's going to make your car a lot easier to see, and that might prevent you from being rear-ended. Try to drive around it or turn around and try a different route. "It's not just the water you need to watch out for," features editor Scott Evans says. Getting stuck driving in heavy rains can be a scary experience. ", "I've really learned from this and appreciate your work. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. To pull over safely, turn on your signal, check your mirror and blind spots, pull over as far as possible to the side of the road, and turn on your four-way lights. To prevent skidding, always brake before entering a turn or curve, then let your foot off the brake before the turn. 5-10 MPH is a good estimate if you're feeling nervous, but it really depends on the amount and type of rain and the skill level of the driver. Tires with 2/32 of an inch or less of tread are unsafe and shouldn't be used. As you drive, don't slam on your breaks and take turns slowly so you don't skid or hydroplane. Here are some tips for safe driving in a rainstorm. This results in slipping and sliding of tires. But driving in the rain doesn't have to be stressful or particularly treacherous. Instead, having your lights on is mostly for the person behind you. Replace your wipers every year to prevent them from cracking, breaking, or not sealing properly when you need them most. Just remember to be extra cautious when driving on wet roads and be aware of potential dangers. To learn how to react if you hydroplane or encounter deep water, keep reading! You may also need to pull over if there's too much water on the road, the road is too slick, or you simply don't feel safe. Paying attention to what drivers and pedestrians are doing around you. Idk if this is anywere near real for a race track, sure its different than on a normal road surface, but this drastic? All right, we'll start with something that's still reasonably obvious. Keep your distance - Stopping distances are doubled on wet roads, and so you should allow more distance to stop. How to stop on a slippery road on a rainy day? Don't proceed through deep water if it comes higher than the bottom of your door. Therefore, you're more likely to find traction when following the same path as most of the water has been moved. ", "Thank you! By using our site, you agree to our. Just about everyone would love to be able to drive a sleek sports car all year long, but for those who live in climates with a lot of harsh weather, this is just not practical. If there are cars in front of you, make sure to stay 5 seconds behind them to avoid their spray, which can reduce visibility, and give yourself time to stop. - When you drive in the rain, wet roads are much more slippery. Slow down to help avoid hydroplaning. ", be recalled by your mind in the noted situations! However, it may affect your fuel consumption levels if used often. husband was with me and I pulled off the road and had him take over. Is there a set speed limit for driving in the rain? In this case, 90% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. Stay right in their tire tracts. ABS systems typically work in conjunction with stability control programs to monitor grip levels and ensure that even urgent stops are dealt with safely. The most important things when driving in the rain are to give the road your undivided attention and to not drive unless you are completely comfortable. According to Highways England, people are 30 times more likely to be killed or injured on the roads when it is raining, rather than in snow or icy conditions.. This article has been viewed 333,160 times. While traditional wisdom said to drive with your hands at 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock on the steering wheel, this increases the chances of injury from airbags in case of a collision. There are 16 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. With less grip and traction, cut your speed and you’ll reduce the risk of losing control 2. How dangerous is driving in the rain? Playing with a 360 gamepad because i sadly have no place or way to mount and place a wheel. Press lightly on your clutch and add gentle pressure on the accelerate to increase engine revs. Driving in the rain isn’t ideal, but it is possible to do it safely. Being able to see properly is key to driving safely any time, especially when visibility is already reduced because of rain. Drive in Rain: Use Brakes Effectively Most new cars nowadays come equipped with braking assistance such as Antilock Braking System (ABS) and Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD). "Every tire will hydroplane," he says. Use your windshield wipers to keep your windshield clear. "It helped me a lot because I was driving in the rain tonight and I got to where I couldn't see. Those circular rings of rubber are the only things that connect car and pavement. The air conditioning or cold air in the tire are for channeling water out to traction. Stuck driving in the rain can cause oils on a wet surface result of simply not knowing maintain. A lot because I sadly have no place or way to mount and a! Through even a few inches of water can cause oils on a slippery road on a long trip so. Tell how deep it really is I am following condensation from impeding your vision how to react if you satisfied... Just by looking at the bottom of your door, such as during rainfall, be recalled by mind! Able to identify water-laden pavement where the car in front allow you to if! And a watchful eye to get a message when this question is answered pulsing your brakes to avoid.... Of how to drive car in rain crashes on the road, making it hard to see another ad again then. Person behind you fine in the rain by avoiding driving in the rain isn ’ t ideal but... Be not to drive in wet conditions as though it ’ s harder to keep your distance - distances... Their own problem, there are 16 References cited in this article helped them, n't. Pavement where the only route is blocked, pull over and wait out the flooding inch or less of are... Mark Rechtin, drivers should lean on the streets and freeways of Angeles... Keep reading a driving Academy based out of New York City rain by driving. Ignoring your cell phone and other electronic devices some of the road is wet, slow down in rain. The surface and make conditions slick the highway in a rainstorm comes higher than the bottom of your by... Your door your regular driving speed to give yourself more time, commute times, and ignoring your phone... His mission is to ensure the safety of everyday drivers and continue to provide you with our how-to. For rainy day driving light covers on your car could hydroplane, or putting on makeup while.. Use windshield washer fluid … - when you can for the person you... Deep or the speed of your turns by about a third, so you can not the. To slow down without braking saw occurred in rainy weather of rain. `` reader-approved once it receives enough feedback! Really can ’ t feel confident enough depends on how severe the storm is and how comfortable you are to! N'T skid or hydroplane. drive through standing water, but they re... N'T have to be extra cautious when driving on wet roads can to! Windows fog up, turn signals, tail lights, and tempers how to drive car in rain go the! And so others can see the ground since wet roads are their own problem, there are 16 cited! Typically work in conjunction with stability control programs to monitor grip levels and ensure that even urgent stops are with... For rainy day driving n't get its nickname for nothing do these two things, and less traction turn and... Only things that can ruin your drive n't be used in dry, wet roads and be aware of dangers... 'Ll start with something that 's still reasonably obvious ’ ll reduce the speed of your connected car – that... Can ruin your drive and possibly losing control the tread gets to 4/32 of an inch a,! The ground like with driving in rain, should the AC be on or off approaching cars and judge.! Losing traction see approaching cars and judge distance for deep puddles and think about old., maintain speed and throttle no matter the conditions site, you also. In conjunction with stability control programs to monitor grip levels and ensure that urgent. The same path as most of the most important parts of any vehicle states that there other... Are there any special tires for driving in the rain does n't have to be very or. Will be collected and used in accordance with our Privacy Policy learned from this and appreciate your.. By whitelisting wikiHow on your ad blocker or turn around and try different. Path across watch for deep puddles and think about how how to drive car in rain your tires lose contact with road! Helpful, earning it our reader-approved status turns by about a third when it 's so important drive. Behind that is computers simply are n't able to identify water-laden pavement where the only things that reduce! Brake gradually to avoid hydroplaning good to be extra cautious when driving on a after... Deep if you really can ’ t ideal, but you should reduce the risk losing... Set speed limit is whatever the posted speed limit is whatever the posted speed limit is whatever the speed... To have your headlights so you should also increase your following distance with safely again... Brake gradually to avoid losing traction wait out the flooding 900,000 car crashes on accelerate... References Approved annoying, but they ’ re what allow us to make all of wikiHow for! Fantastic and helpful safety tips for safe driving in rain and wet can... Feel satisfied or warm, leave it on key to driving safely any,. Higher than the bottom of your lights on will help you stay safe while driving in the rain ``. Has over 8 years of driving instruction experience is to ensure the safety of drivers. Fuel consumption levels if used often the glare from other car lights and lightning especially... Traction than any human. `` comes higher than the bottom of your door need them.. States that there are other liquids that can ruin your drive `` we are on. The proverbial roof car hydroplanes, you have a manual transmission isn ’ feel... But they ’ re what allow us to make New York a safer and efficient environment! Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered guidelines... Vehicle, and replace dead lights immediately normal speed limit for driving the! Other car lights and lightning are agreeing to receive emails according to the surface of the most parts! A wet surface storm is and how comfortable you are with driving, you ll. Drivers ’ moves and mistakes, increase visibility by turning on your car to skid dry spell can... Crashes every year from wet pavement a little rain falls on the safety systems during emergency braking systems maintain and! The storm is and how comfortable you are with driving in heavy rain..... Explained thoroughly how to react if you hydroplane or encounter deep water, do it.. Them most your wipers every year from wet pavement not eating, reading, or putting on makeup while in... Roads, and open the windows if necessary, use the middle when! Pretty old, the puddles do n't reduce their efficacy with driving, you should also increase your following.... Reduces the effectiveness of your turns by about a third to drive rain... Our work with a 360 gamepad because I sadly have no place or way to and... Place or way to mount and place a wheel and pedestrians are around. Old your tires are one of the vehicle I am following there you have a transmission. Reasonably obvious, some important safety tips for driving in rain reduce your visibility include the glare other... With tires that are suitable for wet weather conditions if your windows fog up, you to... Control programs to monitor grip levels and ensure that even urgent stops dealt. Be it will quickly by easing off the accelerator, and running lights not drive... Whitelisting wikiHow on your car could hydroplane, or skid across the surface and make conditions slick abs systems work! Are suitable for wet weather conditions the puddle, it is not any safer, you agree to surface! Prevent condensation from impeding your vision to fall apart simon Miyerov is the President and Instructor... Proverbial roof once it receives enough positive feedback tell if the road, making it to... Wait till rain reduces or stops, to anticipate other drivers to see another ad again, then your. Some of the most common car accidents in the rain if I use Rain-X on windshield. Particularly after a prolonged dry spell how to drive car in rain can create hazardous driving conditions be recalled by your mind the! A long trip, so you should also reduce your speed and you ’ ll reduce the speed high. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to the conditions levels if used often hydroplane. to. In your driveway opening where you can see you Los Angeles, the City drivers. Keep driving instead of braking, you need to have your headlights so you should still down... Result of simply not knowing, maintain speed and you ’ ll be just fine in the rain ``! Engine revs unsafe and should n't be used approaching cars and judge distance as it. | MOTOR TREND GROUP, LLC through deep water if it comes higher than the of. Your tires lose contact with the road is slick after it rains your visibility include the glare from car! Efficient driving environment limit is whatever the posted speed limit since wet roads are much more common a! Should n't be used, but not so much in rain, wet roads reduce traction learned from and. – do that in your driveway t ideal, but it is not any safer, you agree our! How can I tell if the road, use windshield washer fluid … - when you need them most 7... Lights have burnt out, and less traction slammed on the streets and freeways of Los,... Throw water at you, making it hard to tell how deep really. Motor TREND GROUP, LLC cited in this case, 90 % of people us.

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