5 Tips to Drive Safely in the Rain

As rain season begins to approach the Bay Area, it's important to take extra steps to make your daily commute a safe one. Although a little rain may be the least of your concerns, severe weather conditions can greatly increase the risk of accidents on the road. Rain is actually one of the greatest causes of thousands of car accidents per year due to the following:

• Rain makes the roads slippery, therefore increasing the chances of hydroplaning which occurs when a vehicle is traveling too fast in heavy rain conditions, causing the vehicle’s tires to skid on a thin layer of water rather than grip the surface of the road. 
• Rain decreases visibility so it can be difficult to see other drivers around you. 
• A lot of people don't know how to drive in the rain which can also increase the risk of accidents on the road. Some drivers are way too precautious and drive at unreasonably low speeds increasing their chances of a rear end accident. Others are too reckless and drive too fast which can cause drivers to hydroplane and lose control of the vehicle. 

Due to these reasons, it is important to put that phone down while taking the wheel (it's illegal anyway!) and give your undivided attention to the road ahead. Some tips to abide by when driving in heavy rain conditions are as followed:

1. Drive slower and do not break suddenly. The road is most dangerous right after it has just started raining because the oils on the pavement rise to the surface and make the roads slippery. To prevent your car from hydroplaning, drive slowly and do not break suddenly. 
2. Drive near the middle of the road. Most roads are built higher in the middle, so it's best to stay in the middle to avoid flooded areas. It is important to avoid pools of water because a car's tires cannot firmly grip the pavement in a build up of rainwater. 
3. Defog your windows. To correctly do so, blow the air conditioner at both your windshield and rear window or turn on the defog button if your car has that option. Do not try to defog with your heater - that will only fog up your windows even more! 
4. Keep a good distance from the other drivers. This will give you more time to react to traffic. 
5. Put the phone away. Give the road your undivided attention. You can reply to that text when you aren't driving in severe weather conditions, plus it's illegal anyway!

Works Cited.

https://seriousaccidents.com/legal-advice/top-causes-of-car-accidents/rain/

https://www.travelers.com/resources/auto/safe-driving/driving-in-heavy-rain-and-wind.aspx