A Guide To Safe Driving In Wet Conditions

The rainy season is officially underway in many parts of Florida, leaving drivers to navigate the roadways in sometimes dangerous conditions. While it’s best to stay off the roads in these situations, doing so isn’t always possible, in which case, drivers should keep the following tips in mind in their efforts to avoid causing a crash.

The Dangers of the Rainy Season

 Rainy weather and severe storms can make it extremely difficult to drive safely. From hydroplaning to reduced visibility, drivers face a host of hazards during the summer rainy season. In fact, as many as ten percent of car accidents are thought to be caused by rain. Wet road conditions make it harder to stop and avoid collisions, while flooded roadways can cause a vehicle to hydroplane, which occurs when a vehicle’s tires are unable to grip the road, resulting in a loss of control. Reduced visibility can make it harder to see other cars, pedestrians, and cyclists, leading to a higher chance of causing a crash. Fortunately, there are a few steps that drivers can take to help avoid these kinds of accidents.

Tips for Driving Safely in the Rain 

The key to driving during the rainy season is to slow down. Wet roads are slippery and high speeds make driving on these roads even more dangerous. By reducing their speed, drivers can give themselves more time to react to unexpected situations, like another car losing control or a flooded roadway. Other ways that drivers can avoid causing a crash in rainy weather include:

• Increasing following distance to at least six seconds, which gives drivers more time to stop;
• Checking their tires, ensuring that they are properly inflated, have enough tread, and aren’t damaged;
• Improving visibility by turning on their headlights, which increases the chances of avoiding potential hazards; and
• Avoiding sudden movements, such as hard braking, making sharp turns, or accelerating quickly, all of which can cause a car to lose traction and skid across the road and instead trying to make slow, deliberate movements.

Taking these steps can go a long way towards preventing wet weather accidents. It does not, however, guarantee that a person won’t be involved in such a crash. In these cases, it may be necessary to seek compensation from the at-fault driver who caused the accident.

Fort Lauderdale Car Accident Lawyers 

While we can’t control the weather, we can account for it by staying off the roads when driving is dangerous. If, however, it isn’t possible to avoid driving, then Florida drivers should be sure to use extra care when operating their vehicles on the state’s roadways. Those who fail to do so can be held liable if their actions result in an accident. To learn more about car accident recovery in Florida, call the Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys at Boone & Davis today. You can set up a free case review by reaching out to a member of our legal team at 954-566-9919 or by sending us an online message.

Sources: 

weather.gov/tbw/RainySeason

ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/q1_roadimpact.htm