Driving Tips: Wet Road Conditions

Driving in wet road conditions can be a very strenuous situation. Constant vigil must be spent adjusting the wiper blades, changing the defrost settings, all the while driving in very poor visibility. Multitasking all of these accessories in your vehicle is enough to definitely cause some unwanted stress.

In the rainy months of the year motor vehicle accidents and fatalities slowly continue to rise. Not becoming one of these statistics will depend on your driving abilities, and also the choices you make when an unsafe condition arises.

Understanding road conditions and the abilities of your vehicle is possibility the most important part of driving to keep you safe on the highway. When weather conditions change for the worse, so should your driving habits.

Most accidents which happen in severe weather are due to driver error. Maintaining control of the vehicle on wet road conditions is a job not to be taken lightly. Anyone who has driven for a while usually obtains a feel for their vehicle. But, when the road turns hazardous the feel of your vehicle slowly begins to change.

Many cars every year end up in the median strip, or the ditch by drivers who just didn't make the correct decision when it was needed. Loss of control or fish tailing in a vehicle is one of the most seen occurrences which causes numerous accidents every year.

Some drivers are just not aware how to regain control of the vehicle once the feel of the vehicle has been lost. Other drivers are aware of how to retain control, but panic when the situation arises. Listed below are some tips that can help to keep you safe when driving in wet road conditions.

Visibility

Just as with any driving condition visibility is always at the top of the safety list. Make sure that the vehicle's wiper blades and the defrost system are in proper working order. Never try to drive when your vision is impaired. If the rain is very intense use your auxiliary lights to help your vision. If this still doesn't help, pull your vehicle over in a safe place.

Your eyes are the first sense to react to an unsafe condition ahead. Keep your vision focused on all of the traffic which is around you; not only in front and beside you, but also behind you. Always be aware of your surroundings in case a situation happens. This will help to provide a safe place for your vehicle should you need one.

Stay alert in wet road conditions, as the wiper blades and the rain have a way of relaxing you into an almost visual trance. Keep your mind alert to avoid drifting off to sleep. If you start to get sleepy adjust the temperature of your defroster to a cooler setting

Traveling distance and speed

In wet road conditions braking and stopping distances are decreased. In order to combat this situation speed and following distances between vehicles should also be adjusted. Now if a dangerous situation ahead of you arises you'll have more time and room to get out of the way.

The worst part of a rainstorm is when the storm first begins as oil and other debris rises to the surface of the roadway. When traveling at a high rate of speed your chances of stopping on a dime are nil. Always adjust your speed for wet road conditions.

Steering

Standing water on the roadway can sometimes cause the vehicle to fishtail, or lose friction on the roadway surface. When the stability of the vehicle has been lost, regaining this control is sometimes difficult. Counter steering the vehicle is the way to regain the proper alignment of the vehicle.

Exactly how far out of control the vehicle is in the roadway will determine the amount of adjustment needed to gain back the stability of the vehicle. When you first feel the vehicle begin to slide sideways slowly turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid. This simply means if the rear of your vehicle is sliding to the right, turn the steering wheel to the right easy until the vehicle starts to straighten up. As soon as the vehicle begins to regain control, slowly straighten out your steering wheel.

Don't turn your steering wheel in different directions while trying to correct the skid, work with one direction at a time. Now if you've over steered and the vehicle skids in the opposite direction, do the same procedure as before: steer in the direction of the skid. The only time you need to react quickly is if the vehicle is close to halfway around.

Braking in wet conditions

Using the brakes is probably the worst maneuvers you can do in slick road conditions. The adjustments of your brakes are usually set at 75% for the front brakes, and 25% for the rear brakes. If you lock up your brakes more than likely the front brakes will grab quicker. This can result in the rear of your vehicle coming around to where the front end of your vehicle once was.

Although your initial reaction is to hit the brakes when your car starts to skid, the best procedure is still to regain control of your vehicle with your steering. Most people usually hit their brakes first when control of the vehicle has been lost.

If you have to slow the vehicle down while you're in a skid (because a vehicle in front of you is stopping) tap the brakes lightly, and let off of them while you're counter steering. This gives you a sense of how much brake you can use. This procedure also helps to tell you what the friction or traction of your car is on the road surface.

Always be aware of the distance of the vehicle ahead of you while you're driving. Look for a safe place to maneuver your vehicle into just in case you can't stop in time. Always check which vehicles are around you in case you have to change lanes quickly. This way you'll know exactly where your safe place is on the roadway at all times.

Learn to relax

Driving while stressed out is just waiting for an accident to happen. If you start to lose control of the vehicle don't overreact. This reaction is very hard to overcome when your car is unstable. Overreacting only forces your car into another unsafe maneuver. The stability of your car is now in jeopardy as any quick movements only causes the car to react in a "to quick" maneuver, which causes the vehicle to slide now in the opposite direction.

Slow steady movements with a calm mind will help to keep you safe as you travel in most adverse conditions. With these simple procedures you're now ready to tackle even the worst roads ahead. Always drive safely in these wet conditions, and stay alert.