What a beautiful morning! My commute to work was alright, despite the rain; but as I got closer to Franklin, I could feel my car hydroplaning as I exited 65-South to Murfreesboro Road. Luckily, it was around 6:30am, and there were no other cars on the road- but what to do if you are in particularly heavy traffic?
In case you, or someone you might know, would be interested in some helpful driving-in-rain tidbits, I wanted to point you in an excellent direction for guidance.
Edmunds published these Tips and Techniques for Driving in Rain, and after reading them, I must say they do come in handy.
Allow more time for travel. I think this is extremely important- with the buildup of oil and grease on the road, trying to get anywhere in a hurry is risky business. Add a couple inches of water, and it can mean disaster quickly. Plus, we all know how Nashville traffic can get, and traffic will be backed up somewhere- so go a little slower.
Break earlier and with less force. This follows the ‘allow more time for travel’ (and go a little slower) part. Making sure that you allow enough room between you and the car in front of you helps when traffic stops to a stand-still. Additionally, it allows time for the driver behind you to brake as well.
Avoid Puddles. Water typically runs to the side of the road, so making sure you remain as close to the middle as possible helps prevent running into deep standing water. “Water splashing up into your car’s engine compartment could damage its internal electrical systems”, and masks problems on the surface. Is there a pothole under the water? Trouble.
Don’t Use Cruise Control. In bad weather reaction time is of the utmost importance- cruise control allows you “to be less vigilant”, so try not to use it in rainy weather.
Turn on your headlights. With visibility an issue, it allows other drivers to see you, and allows you to see the road.
Defog your windows.
If you do start to hydroplane, don’t brake suddenly or turn the wheel. Like I did this morning, release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, Edmunds offers, “tap the brake pedal”- unless you have anti-lock brakes, then you can put your foot down.
Make sure you stay on top of your car’s condition- if you have any questions about your tires (pressure and tread depth), brakes, front/rear wiper blades, or defroster, call your local shop to get it checked out!
For service call 615-791-1101 and ask the receptionist to connect you with Honda, Volvo, or Subaru Service.
Read the full Edmunds article here: http://beta.edmunds.com/car-safety/tips-and-techniques-for-driving-in-rain.html?articleid=45401
Happy holiday driving!
