In New Jersey, rain is common any time of year, but with our warmer winters, and spring ahead, rainy drives are all but certain.
Here are tips to ensure that both you and your vehicle are ready for the weather.
1. Keep up with your maintenance
Visibility and reaction time are everything when conditions are poor. That’s why it’s so important to keep your tires and wiper blades in good order. Your tires should be properly inflated and have the tread depth necessary to maintain your vehicle’s grip on the road—even in the wettest weather. Also make sure your car’s temperature controls are doing their job and all vents are working. When your windows fog up, you’ll need them.
2. Slow down.
In rain, you won’t be able to stop your vehicle as quickly and your visibility will be lessened. Combine that with other drivers’ also facing challenges and you need all the time you can to safely slow to a stop. While most drivers will lower their speed in extremely heavy rain, light rain doesn’t always prompt the same caution. Unfortunately, fatal accidents are 27 percent more likely during even a light rain.
3. Turn on your lights
While drivers usually remember to turn on their lights as evening approaches, you’ll see more cars without lights on a rainy day. Even if it’s only raining lightly or there’s a light fog, turn on your lights. While you may be able to see just fine, you also want other cars to see you. Rain can easily make your vehicle seem nearly invisible to others.
4. Keep a light touch.
When driving in the rain, keep a light touch. Avoid slamming on the brakes or punching the gas. If you do hit a patch of water and begin to hydroplane, do your best to stay calm. Take your foot off the accelerator and steer the direction you need to go, making no sudden movements.
5. Don’t get in too deep.
If water is covering the markings on the road, it’s too deep to drive on. Unfortunately, you can lose control with as little as three inches of water on the road. And even if you manage to stay in control, a larger vehicle could push some of that water underneath your car, causing your engine to stall. If you come to a body of water you don’t know the depth of, find a new route. The inconvenience is always worth protecting your life.
6. Wait it out if you can.
If there’s a forecast of dangerous conditions or the rain looks particularly heavy, plan around the weather. Try to delay your trip until the worst of the rain passes. If, when you’re driving, you feel like you’re losing visibility and are no longer comfortable, pull into a lot or safe location if you’re able to.
Unfortunately, weather-related crashes do happen, sometimes requiring body repairs. If your car has been damaged in a crash, contact Bob Hope’s Auto Repair today. Our trained technicians can assess your vehicle’s damage and advise you on needed repairs.