Car Accident Attorneys: Safety Tips for Wet Roads
Most everyone welcomes the time of year to put away the snow shovel and get out the umbrella. The warmer air of Spring certainly makes it more enjoyable to be outside, but the frequent rain still presents hazards, particularly on the roadway. In fact, wet roadways contribute to nearly 1.2 million car accidents nationwide each year. Since driving in the rain is oftentimes unavoidable, the personal injury and car accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Blake R. Maislin want to provide you with tips for the next time you have to flip on your windshield wipers.
Preparation
There are many steps you can take in order to drive safely in the rain and they start prior to ever getting behind the wheel. Here are your safety tips:
1. It is very important to make sure that your vision is as clear as possible during a storm. To do so, replace windshield wipers if they leave streaks or do not clear the windshield in one swipe.
2. It is equally important to make sure you are seen. Check your headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals to make sure they are all in working order.
3. Finally, in preparation for driving in wet weather, it is necessary to check your tires. Proper tire tread depth and inflation are vital to keeping traction on wet roads. Unfortunately, even with preparation for driving on wet roads, car accidents can still happen. When they do, the car accident attorneys from The Law Offices of Blake R. Maislin are here to help.
Driving tips
When driving in rain is necessary, there are also safety precautions that should be taken. Here are a few of the most imortant:
1. Slow down. Reducing speed during wet weather is critical to reducing the chance of hydroplaning. Even brand new tires can lose contact with the roadway at speeds as low as 35 mph.
2. To further reduce chances of hydroplaning, drivers should try to drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of them and avoid hard braking and sharp turns.
3. Even if the road is dry, it is important that drivers do not follow the car in front of them too closely. However, this is especially true when the roads are wet. When it’s raining, drivers should increase the following distance of the vehicle in front of them.
4. Drivers should also begin slowing for stops and turns earlier than they would if the roadway was dry. Oftentimes, the brakes on your car or cars around you may lock tend to lock up in the wet conditions. Giving yourself ample time to stop will provide plenty of time to release and reapply your brakes should they lock up.
5. Another important safety precaution when driving on wet roads is to avoid using cruise control when the roadways are wet. Using cruise control increases the chances of losing control of your vehicle. To prevent loss of traction in the rain, drivers should reduce the car’s speed by lifting their foot off of the accelerator. This can’t happen when using cruise control. The only way to slow down is to hit the brakes. Avoiding cruise control allows drivers more options when responding to a loss-of-traction situation.
Response to Losing Control
No matter how careful you drive, it is possible you will lose control of your vehicle on a wet roadway. If this happens, it is important to keep calm and follow some basic steps. First, make sure you continue to look and steer in the direction you wish the vehicle to go. Second, do not slam on the brakes. Hitting the brakes, can further upset the vehicles balance and make it more difficult to control.
Even with all precautions for wet weather driving, car accidents can still happen. If you are injured in a car crash. The experienced car accident attorneys at The Law Offices of Blake Maislin are here to help you get the compensation you deserve. If you or someone you know has been injured in an automobile crash, please contact the Law Offices of Blake R. Maislin today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys.
