By Guest Author: Lauren Byrd
Practicing proper driver safety is a very important part of driving. As a driver, you should be aware of proper car maintenance, safety tips, and also how to react in certain situations. A situation you will definitely experience is driving through bad weather conditions. Many rain showers and thunderstorms pop up in the summer, so understanding how to stay safe during these conditions can help prevent possible accidents.
According to AAA, wet pavement contributes to nearly 1.2 million traffic crashes each year. Here are some tips to follow this summer when you are caught driving in the rain.
- Make Sure Headlights are Functioning Properly
You definitely don’t want to be caught out in a storm without proper working headlights. Checking to make sure your headlights are working before you begin driving should be one of the first things you do upon entering your vehicle. Headlights help you to see the road, and they also help other drivers see you.
- Check Tire Inflation and Tread Depth
Not having enough tread depth in your tires causes a higher risk for hydroplaning. You need enough tread depth to allow the rain to escape through the tire’s grooves. In order to check your tire’s tread depth, you can use the coin test explained below.
Coin Test:
Take a penny, and with Lincoln’s head upside down, put it between the tread of the tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread is worn down and it is time for new tires. Mavis Tire has a wonderful “Buy 3 Tires Get 1 Free” deal if you find yourself in need of tires.
Along with ensuring that your tires have the proper tread depth, you should also make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended pressure. Tires that are under-inflated can cause hydroplaning and can even cause you to lose control of your vehicle.
- Replace Old Windshield Wipers
As soon as you notice a difference in your driving visibility or that your windshield wiper blades are squeaking, you need to purchase new blades. Advance Auto Parts offers free wiper installation with your windshield wiper blade purchase.
- Slow Down
One of the most important tips to remember when driving through the rain is to slow down and reduce your speed. It is not safe to drive through the rain at the same speed you would drive at in sunny weather. Slowing down can improve your safety as well as the safety of other drivers around you.
By Guest Author: Lauren Byrd
Lauren is a contributing writer and media specialist for Mavis Discount Tire. She regularly produces content for a variety of lifestyle and automotive blogs based around driver safety tips, auto service tips, and more.