Is it raining heavily outside and you need to drive through it? Do not take it lightly. Driving in rain needs some extra care and cautiousness, without which you can be encircled with troubles that you never thought of. So here are some useful safety tips for driving in the rain that we have collected from the experts who serve at the service center of the Salem Chevrolet dealership.
Since heavy rains is capable of creating a normal road into a dangerously slicky one and you get little visibility to respond in time, you become highly susceptible to crashes and head on collisions. To avoid such untoward events, here are some things you should keep in mind, whenever it is time to drive through the rains.
Checking Out Your Windshield Wiper Blades
Before you take your car out when it is raining heavily outside, make sure to check the windshield wipers of your car. This is the first line of defense that you can take against such poor weather conditions. It is the pair of windshield wipers that play the major role in maintaining your visibility by constantly cleaning the windshield from the downpour. But if they are too old or in poor shape, the result can be simply devastating. If they become unable to clean the windshield properly, or stop working once for all, while you are still at the middle of the road, you can hardly drive ahead. To keep them as active as ever, keep changing them in every six months.
Check the Tires
The tires of your car keep treading to give your vehicle the required traction. This is important when you need to drive on wet roads that get eventually slippery with continuous downpour. In such situation you might experience Hydroplaning which takes place when a layer of water gets accumulated between the tires and the roadway. This can make the vehicle skid and has caused countless accidents that had taken place in the wet weather. If the tire treads of your car are already at the verge of wearing off, your vehicle will be more prone to hydroplaning. To avoid this, try using a tire tread gauge to test the rubber of your car at least once in a month, and make sure to replace the tires at the slightest signs of wear, especially when rainy season is approaching.
Avoid Puddles and Stagnant Water
We know you are brave. But your car might not agree with your brave moves. If there are puddles and stagnant water around, avoid driving your car through them. If you let your car tires come in touch with these water holes, your car will be more likely to hydroplane and start splashing out big amounts of water and create a nuisance for the pedestrians. Hence, steer clear from any puddles as much as possible and keep hydroplaning at bay.
Handling with Hydroplaning
The experts at the Salem Chevrolet continued with their last word of advice that even after all the precautions, if your car starts hydroplaning, avoid sudden braking or acute acceleration or even sharp steering as these will increase the possibilities of worsened skids. To stay away from such hydroplaning, ease off your foot from the gas, and keep driving in the direction of your destination. Learn more about the safety measures you can take for the protection of your life, on this website: www.dreamcarsweekend.com