Driving in rainy weather may seem like such an appealing experience for some passengers. With the pitter-patter of the raindrops on the roof, and the cold weather creating mists on the windows, it can create the perfect mood for daily musings. However, for drivers who need to deal with wet roads and strong winds, this type of weather may not be as pleasant as others might think.
External natural forces can make it harder for them to see, and gain control of the vehicle. These situations demand better precautions and safety steps. So, before you start your journey, check this list out first.
6 Tips before Driving
Driving in normal weather requires your full attention on the road. This focus needs to be twice as targeted on stormy weather when other hindering factors come into the picture. From fog, raindrops, mist, and more, these natural factors can dramatically change how your car behaves. And, to make sure that you get through it without any scratches, here are some driving tips:
- Take time on The Curves
Road curves are one of the riskiest highway architecture. Often found in cliffs and rural spots, these roads are full of blind spots and cause weird wheel angles. These sudden turns can lead to plenty of tipping cars and crashes.
Since the wheel itself is moving forward, and the direction of the car is going sideways, these conflicting forces can create a leaning effect on your vehicle, making it more prone to severe impacts.
The best way to minimize the accidents is to simply slow down and honk to signal other drivers of your presence. In addition, before going out, make sure to look up your route and check for curved roads.
- Beware of Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning occurs when the water underneath a vehicle’s wheel causes it to glide on a water film and lose contact with the road. If you’re moving too fast, no matter how much you step on your brakes, you’d still probably skid and lose control. This skidding phenomenon becomes more pronounced when it’s accompanied by strong winds.
The weird thing about it is that it’s more likely to happen during the first moments of rain. Some of the precautions that you can take to avoid this are to gradually slow down, turn slowly, take care of your tires, and check your brakes.
- Look out for Jack-knifing
Jack-knifing usually happens to truck drivers that are moving too fast. This phenomenon occurs when a truck that’s dragging a trailer is moving too fast and is applying a sudden brake. The truck’s engine itself may be starting to slow down but the inertia of the trailer load is still increasing, creating a push-like effect on the truck.
This in turn leads to a curved skid between the truck and the trailer, resembling a jackknife. Now as an ordinary driver, you may not necessarily encounter this problem. However it’s still important to know that this is a common phenomenon among trailer trucks, so when you encounter them on the road, just make sure to keep a safe distance from them.
And, if you ever find yourself in an accident with these trucks, call and hire a personal injury lawyer in North York, depending on your location, to guarantee proper settlement from the company.
- Keep a Distance
Force is calculated by multiplying mass by acceleration. This means that the faster and heavier an object is the greater force it generates. On the road, huge vehicles like SUVs, trailer trucks, and commercial vans are more capable of creating a greater amount of force, making it harder for them to slow down.
Sudden brakes can cause them to skid and topple over due to the inability of the brakes to counter the generated inertia. On a windy day, this created inertia increases due to the added external force that the breeze brings.
When you’re driving beside a speeding truck you may even get sucked into the high pressure that it creates. To avoid any mishaps and accidents, remember to always maintain a safe distance from huge, heavy-duty vehicles.
And, if you are a truck driver reading this, you can prevent these tragic outcomes by visiting professionals in truck repair in Sarnia to identify problems and assess the status of your vehicle.
- Gradual Movement Correction
During the rain and windy weather, the accident rate can rise twice as high on a normal day. Due to the reduced friction, brakes can have a harder time gripping the rubber, especially when it’s moving fast. So, if you’re trying to turn, switch lanes, or pass a curved road, move gradually. Slowly step on the brakes, and move to a lower gear shift.
- Perform a Tire Check-up
High-quality tires have grade-A rubbers that allow it to have a better grip on the road. During windy and rainy days, you will be retained heavily on the road depending on the current status of your tires. Wear and tear on its grooves can lessen its generated friction and make it harder for you to slow down.
If you want to stay safe, make sure to regularly replace your tires and conduct a check-up before driving out. You can contact professionals with websites like kingswaytransmission.com to help you with the replacement.
The likelihood of car accidents will dramatically increase during rainy and windy weather. Due to the reduced rubber to asphalt friction and lower visibility, cars can skid, collide, and crash at a higher rate. However, some appointments and destinations just have to be reached, rain or shine. So, instead of being afraid of the rainy and windy weather, make sure to follow the helpful driving tips to make sure that you arrive safely at your destination.