Driving on Wet Roads

Whether a road becomes wet due to rain, snow, or melting ice the problems generated are still the same. Wet roads lead to skidding, slipping and hydroplaning, all of which can cause vehicle damage, injury, and even death. While it is impossible to completely eliminate the risk one faces while driving on wet roads, it is entirely possible to reduce the factors that lead to such accidents. Here are some of best methods available to reduce those risks.

• Speed. Make sure that you do not drive too fast for the conditions. Never drive faster than you feel comfortable going. If you feel the need, then slow down. It is better to drive slow and safe than fast and reckless. When driving at night, follow the old bit of advice of not outrunning your headlights. This should give you plenty of time to react if you see other vehicles trying to stop suddenly or if you see something in the road that needs to be avoided. If at all possible, avoid trying to pass other vehicles simply because this could cause a reaction or over reaction.
• Tires. Improperly inflated tires, while adversely affect your gas mileage, is also going to affect your vehicle's handling. To keep this from happening, you should make sure that you maintain the proper air pressure, as recommended by the manufacturer. Do this by checking your tire pressure on a regular basis.
• Wipers. Make sure that your window wipers are in good working order. If the motor does not work, thereby not allowing the wipers to move, then you need to get it fixed. Also, be sure that you check the condition of the wiper blades themselves. If they are old and brittle or chipped or damaged in some other manner, then they really should be replaced at the first available opportunity. If you do not then you are going to be faced with a streaky window which is difficult to see out of.
• Follow. When following other vehicles in traffic, follow in the tire tracks that are left by the vehicle ahead of you. This allows better traction for your vehicle. As you are following another vehicle, make sure that you keep a minimum of eight seconds between yourself and the vehicle ahead. Avoid, if possible, following any large truck because they typically handle badly in wet conditions and throw up large amounts of water.
• Brakes. When the need to brake, avoid stomping on the brake pedal. In situations where you can see a stop arriving, slow down as much as you can by simply taking your foot off of the accelerator and allowing the car to coast to a stop. This reduces the chance of any slipping, sliding or hydroplaning. If you have an antilock braking system (ABS) on your vehicle, avoid pumping your brakes. That is what your ABS is for, and if you try doing it yourself then you are reducing their effectiveness.