It can be dangerous to drive in heavy rain. Heavy rain can make it difficult to see when rain hits your windshield. Even the spray that comes from surrounding vehicles can make your drive more difficult than it would be otherwise. Another one of the most dangerous aspects of driving in the rain is hydroplaning. Hydroplaning can happen when water sits on the road surface. If there is enough water on the road, it can actually form a very thin layer between the tire and the surface of the road. This surface drastically reduces friction and grip and make it incredibly difficult to control your vehicle. Below are some tips on how to prevent hydroplaning. Even after reading these tips, if you live in an area of heavy rain like Seattle, you may want to consider upgrading your Seattle auto insurance before an accident happens.
The first thing you should do to prevent hydroplaning is to plan ahead. There are a few things you should do to keep your car in the best possible condition to avoid hydroplaning.
First, you might need to consider buying a new vehicle. If you drive a sports car or convertible, it might not be able to handle the demands of frequent winter driving. If you live in an area that may only have one or two storms all winter long, you can probably get away without replacing your car but if it is going to snow any more frequently than that, you may not have a choice.
If your tires are old and the tread is worn, you should get them replaced as soon as possible. When you do get them replaced, you should consider getting tires that are designed for handling wet weather.
Even if your tires do not need to be replaced, they may still need to be rotated. If you fail to properly rotate your tires, you may have unbalanced tread. Unbalanced tread can be very dangerous. If one tire is able to grip the road but another is not, the car can be more susceptible to hydroplaning.
Once you have taken all the proper steps to prepare your vehicle to prevent hydroplaning, you still need to know what to do when you are actually out driving on the road.
First, take your foot off the gas. This will allow the car to slow down naturally based on the friction of the road and your drivetrain. Do not slam on your brakes, this can cause the hydroplane to get worse. If you do need to use your brakes, apply them just as you would to perform a normal stop. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, it will help modulate the brake pressure to prevent the wheels from locking up and sliding on the road surface.
Second, steer in the direction of the road, in other words, steer in the direction that you want the car to go. This might seem obvious but some people panic when a car starts to slide and try to steer in the opposite direction of the slide. This will put the front wheels at odds with the rear wheels and actually make it more difficult for the car to regain traction.
If you follow these tips for safer winter driving, you probably won't need those changes you made to your Seattle car insurance.
The first thing you should do to prevent hydroplaning is to plan ahead. There are a few things you should do to keep your car in the best possible condition to avoid hydroplaning.
First, you might need to consider buying a new vehicle. If you drive a sports car or convertible, it might not be able to handle the demands of frequent winter driving. If you live in an area that may only have one or two storms all winter long, you can probably get away without replacing your car but if it is going to snow any more frequently than that, you may not have a choice.
If your tires are old and the tread is worn, you should get them replaced as soon as possible. When you do get them replaced, you should consider getting tires that are designed for handling wet weather.
Even if your tires do not need to be replaced, they may still need to be rotated. If you fail to properly rotate your tires, you may have unbalanced tread. Unbalanced tread can be very dangerous. If one tire is able to grip the road but another is not, the car can be more susceptible to hydroplaning.
Once you have taken all the proper steps to prepare your vehicle to prevent hydroplaning, you still need to know what to do when you are actually out driving on the road.
First, take your foot off the gas. This will allow the car to slow down naturally based on the friction of the road and your drivetrain. Do not slam on your brakes, this can cause the hydroplane to get worse. If you do need to use your brakes, apply them just as you would to perform a normal stop. If your car is equipped with anti-lock brakes, it will help modulate the brake pressure to prevent the wheels from locking up and sliding on the road surface.
Second, steer in the direction of the road, in other words, steer in the direction that you want the car to go. This might seem obvious but some people panic when a car starts to slide and try to steer in the opposite direction of the slide. This will put the front wheels at odds with the rear wheels and actually make it more difficult for the car to regain traction.
If you follow these tips for safer winter driving, you probably won't need those changes you made to your Seattle car insurance.
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