Unless there is a drought in New York City, rain is inevitable. When it rains, there are a lot of things that must be done differently while driving. It usually becomes darker outside, streets become slippery, vision becomes impaired due to wet windshields, etc. On top of the hazardous conditions that come with rain, the population has been constantly increasing which means a lot more cars are on the road. Not to worry though, follow these steps and your drive will become a lot safer.
Slow and Steady wins the Race
Or in this case, it might save your life. It seems obvious, but we all know that we have places to be. New York is known as a city that never sleeps and everyone is always rushing to be somewhere. Just keep in mind that the faster you drive in the rain, the greater your chances are of hydroplaning on the road. The faster you hit the wet surface, the more out of control your vehicle will become. The solution is simple. Slowing down will help your tires drive through the rain and get traction on the road. Another good idea is to wait for a bit after it starts raining. During the first few moments of rainfall, all the dirt and oils on the roads start to float toward the surface and that can greatly increase the chances of hydroplaning.
Pay Attention!
Routines are a daily part of our life. Wake up, get out of bed, go to the bathroom, get dressed, eat breakfast. We do these routines so often that sometimes you might be eating breakfast and think to yourself, “wait a sec, did I brush my teeth yet? Or when did I get dressed?” It’s just as easy to follow a routine for your daily commute. You get in your car, maybe you call your mom or play some music, and drive to work and back home using the same exact route every day. You don’t think anything of it because it is just another routine that you engraved in your brain.
It’s easy to go on autopilot and that’s exactly what you don’t want to do when it’s raining. At any time, you, or a vehicle around you, may hit a puddle and lose traction. In that situation, only your reflexes will be able to provide you with any support. If your attention is on the road, you will be able to react calmly. You should always keep your eyes on the road and pay attention to where you can safely steer to avoid a hazard. Don’t forget to leave extra space from the vehicle in front of you.
Wait for the Weather to Improve
Sometimes it’s better to wait. If you are on the road and it starts pouring rain drastically, it is better to pull over safely and wait it out. It’s very dangerous to keep going because most likely, with your windshield wipers on full speed, you still won’t see well in front of you. It’s probably scarier getting into a life-threatening accident than being a few minutes late to work.