5 Safety Tips For Driving in the Rain Safely in Kansas
According to data from Kansas State University, June typically has the most rainfall of the year in Kansas. Rain can create conditions that can make controlling a motor vehicle difficult, especially for drivers that are inexperienced or uncomfortable with driving in inclement weather. Heavy or sudden precipitation can lead to an increase in car accidents. The good news is that many of these accidents are preventable by following a few simple driving in rain safety tips.
To help you and the drivers in your household stay safe when the roads are wet, the Kansas injury lawyers at Patterson Legal Group recommend the five following safety tips.
Follow These Driving in Rain Safety Tips
Although weather-related car accidents are more dangerous than many motorists think, they are also highly preventable. Please learn and follow the guidelines below to maximize your safety, and please share these tips with the drivers in your life.
1) Reduce Your Speed
When roads are wet, tire traction is reduced. This makes your car more difficult to control, as well as more prone to hydroplaning. Driving slower when it’s raining than you typically would on a sunny day goes a long way towards improving your driving in rain safety.
2) Increase Your Following Distance
Maintain a greater distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you when it’s raining. Similar to how tire traction is reduced in wet conditions, braking distance is also increased. This means that it takes more time for your brakes to bring your car to a stop during the rain than during dry conditions. Increasing the distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you will give you more time to react.
3) Check and Maintain Your Tires and Wipers
This is some regular maintenance that should be performed at least biweekly. Making sure that your tire treads are in good condition and your tire pressure is optimal goes a long way towards making your car more responsive. Similarly, making sure that your wipers are in condition goes a long way towards maximizing your visibility during inclement weather.
4) Avoid Sudden Maneuvers
There are some driving maneuvers that you may feel completely comfortable with in dry conditions that could be potentially catastrophic when it’s raining. Things like rapid acceleration, heavy braking, or sharp turns can cause your vehicle to lose traction and spin out of control on wet surfaces. Similar to how you should drive slower when it’s raining, you should be gentler and more conservative with your acceleration, braking, and steering.
5) Turn Your Headlights On
Although many newer vehicles have headlights that automatically turn on when it rains, older vehicles do not have this feature. Rain can often limit your visibility and headlights can help mitigate the lowered visibility. If you’re driving while it’s raining during the day and your car doesn’t not have automatic headlights then be sure to manually turn yours on.
Contact a Kansas Car Accident Lawyer
The team at Patterson Legal Group hopes that you follow the driving in rain safety tips above to reduce your chances of a traffic accident. Kansas doesn’t get as much rain as most coastal states, so many drivers are unaccustomed to it and can be unprepared. This can lead to an uptick in weather-related crashes. Don’t let this happen to you. Learn the safety tips above to avoid rainy day car accidents.
Unfortunately, some accidents will happen no matter how safe you’re being. If you’ve been in a Kansas car wreck caused by other parties then contact us for immediate assistance. You can reach Patterson Legal Group 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone at (888) 687-2400 and online through LiveChat or encrypted contact form. Consultations are free and we work on a “no win, no fee” basis, so you don’t pay a dime unless money has been collected on your behalf. Take the first step towards the compensation that you deserve for your injuries and call Patterson Legal Group today.
The information on this blog is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to serve as legal advice for an individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship nor does viewing this material constitute an attorney-client relationship.
