Understanding how to drive safely in the rain and snow can be extremely important for driving safer, preventing accidents, and educating your children, especially when you live in Connecticut, where driving in the rain and snow is a necessity.
In the United States, there are nearly 6 million car crashes a year, and out of those, about 23% are related to the weather. This is around 1.3 million car crashes related to the weather per year! Those of us in Connecticut face almost every type of weather, including snow, sleet, ice, rain, fog, wind, and blowing debris. Driving in these conditions is often a necessity, but can also create a lot of uneasiness.
Safety Tips for Rainy Weather
We have all been driving on a street or the highway when all of the sudden it starts pouring, and the road becomes barely visible. When this happens, slow down about 5 to 10 mph. Turn on your lights, windshield wipers, and your defroster to minimize any fog or steam. If you are on the highway, it is a good idea to move into the right lane and keep a good distance away from the driver in front of you. A wet road causes car tires to lose traction, so avoid stopping quickly, if you can. If the road you are driving on looks like it is flooded, do not drive through it because the water can cause you to hydroplane or even cause your car to float and get carried by the water.
Safety Tips for Snowy Weather
When you are driving in the snow, try to brake while your tires are going in a straight line, rather than on a curve. You will need to give yourself much more slowing down time before getting to intersections, stop signs, and lights. When you are driving downhill, you may want to shift to a lower gear to avoid skidding. If your car starts to skid, avoid accelerating and keep a firm grip on the steering wheel until you regain control.
General Tips
When driving in bad conditions like rain and snow, it is easy to want to drive quickly to get home and out of the bad weather. However, it is important to take it slow when driving in these conditions, especially when the road is slick or icy. Slick roads greatly increase the chances of hydroplaning and losing control of the wheel. It is also important to be mindful or your tires and replace them to make sure that they are equipped to handle severe weather. When driving with old tires, there is less traction and grip, and therefore, can greatly increase your chances of slipping when driving in poor weather conditions.
If you have received a traffic violation or have been in a car accident, give our office a call today. We can answer your questions and see what we can do for you.
