It starts with a few innocent raindrops on the glass.
At first, you might not even bother to turn on the windshield wipers. But judging from the dark skies and rolling thunder, you know it’s just the beginning. Before long, your car is under assault from a rapid barrage of descending beads, leaving a blurry barrier on the windshield while the wiper blades swing at full speed trying to whisk rain away.
You’re caught in a deluge on the highway—and it can be a pretty scary feeling, even for the most skilled drivers. Besides being a nerve-racking experience, driving in heavy rain can easily lead to hydroplaning.
So how can you drive safely in heavy rain? Here are six tips to keep in mind:
- Take some extra precautions. This means slowing down and observing the three-second safe driving rule drivers need to abide no matter the conditions. (In case you need a refresher, the three-second rule says you should pick a landmark that the car in front of you just passed and count to three, making sure a full three seconds passes before you cross the same spot to ensure you are a safe distance from the car in front of you). This is especially important when following large trucks and buses, since the water sprayed from their tires may hit your windshield and limit your vision.
- Maintain your visibility. Turning your headlights on is an easy way to drive safely in heavy rain. Flip on your lights whenever a weather condition threatens your vision. This includes heavy rain as well as fog. If conditions are especially bad, consider turning on your four-way flashers.
- Stick to paved surfaces. Driving off-road during wet conditions jeopardizes the traction your tires have on paved surfaces because mud and other debris can collect on them. You should also avoid traveling through puddles or open-water areas – their depth may surprise you.
- Stay in your vehicle during lightning storms. If the weather outside has become too bad to continue driving or if your car breaks down during a thunderstorm, make sure you stay in your vehicle. Your car provides you with insulated protection against a nearby lighting strike. You won’t enjoy this protection standing out in the open.
- Don’t drive in flooded areas. Just 12 inches of rushing water can carry away most cars, and just 2 feet of water can do the same to SUVs and trucks. It’s no wonder over half of all flood-related drownings occur when vehicles drive into flood waters, according to the CDC. So. if you have to ask yourself whether you can drive through a flooded road, you already have your answer.
- Stay home if possible. Sometimes the simplest safety measure is the most effective. Unless you absolutely have to travel, stay in when heavy rains are in the forecast. Unfortunately, in spite of all the precautions we take, accidents can still happen in rainy conditions. And in those situations, having the right auto insurance coverage can make all the difference when you need it.
