How many people know NOT to use their cruise control while driving in the rain? Not many I bet. I didn’t know about it either until I ran across several articles on the dangers of this practice. The time it takes to turn your cruise control off if you start hydroplaning on slick pavement could add to an already dangerous situation. Cruise control is designed for “normal road conditions”. So remember, when the rain starts, turn off that cruise control and pay attention to your vehicle and the road!
Rain is blamed for thousands of accidents yearly. When the road is wet, the water on the asphalt causes tires to lose traction. While most people know to SLOW DOWN in the rain, there are definitely other tips, in addition to the one stated above about cruise control, that will help keep you and those who share the road with you, from becoming a statistic.
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Allow for more travel time.
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Brake earlier and with less force.
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Tap on your brake pedal lightly to dry off some of water on your rotors.
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Turn on your headlights to help increase visibility.
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Watch out for pedestrians and other motorists.
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Pull over and wait for the rain to lighten or stop if it is raining so hard that you can not see the road or the car ahead of you.
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Drive in the tracks of the car ahead, they helped to cleat a path for better traction.
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Give a truck or bus extra distance, their extra large tires can create enough spray on your windshield to block your vision.
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Defog your windows by switching on both your front and rear defrosters.
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If you Hydroplane, don’t brake suddenly or turn the wheel, or you might spin or skid. Release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).