Changes from the norm can put people on edge, resulting in worse-than normal driving. Driving in Las Vegas can be hazardous in it’s own right but when you factor in the rare occasion of rain.
The driving can get a whole lot worse.
It’s important to be alert and keep yourself and your family safe from harm. Here are a few ways to make driving safer when flooding and slick roads are a possibility.
1. Turn your headlights on.
Make sure you keep your low beams active at all times during the rain. While this won’t help you, it will make you much more visible to the other drivers on the road. However, if you activate your high beams, you run the risk of blinding the other motorists.
2. Shut off cruise control.
Most motorists are used to comfort while driving, but you need to maintain absolute control on wet roads. Cruise control reduces the amount of control you have over the vehicle and can be extremely dangerous if you hydroplane. Keep cruise control off and maintain a safe, steady speed while in the rain.
3. Stick to the inside lane.
The edges of the road are usually the wettest. If you cannot seem the road because of a puddle, try to avoid those spots; water can be deceivingly deep in places. Submersion doesn’t just wrest control away from you as a driver, but it can also damage the inner components of your engine. Sticking to the inside lane, where the water levels are the lowest, is the safest way of driving anywhere.
4. Never slam on the brakes.
Hard braking is common in bumper-to-bumper traffic, but if your brake pads are wet then they may fail. Give yourself enough space from other vehicles and lightly tap your brakes if you need to slow down. This will warn the motorist behind you and prevent them from rear-ending you.
5. Set your wipers to an appropriate speed.
Many people do not understand how to properly use windshield wipers, particularly if they aren’t familiar with rainy weather. Setting your wipers to a speed that fits the current rate of rainfall is important; too slow or too fast can be just as distracting as the rain itself.
6. Assume other drivers do not know what they’re doing.
While driving anywhere, it’s important to practice defensive driving techniques. If you cannot tell if someone is going to stop, assume they won’t. Focus on keeping yourself safe and be aware of other motorists on the highway.
If you or someone you know is injured in an accident due to reckless driving, give Mainor Worth a call. As a leading personal injury attorney, Mainor Worth can help you get the settlement you need to cover your medical and related expenses.
