1. **Slow Down**: Reduce your speed to help prevent hydroplaning and maintain control of your vehicle, as rain mixes with oil and dirt on the roads, making them slippery.
2. **Increase Following Distance**: Extend your following distance from the standard 3 seconds to 5-6 seconds to provide more time to react to vehicles stopping or slowing in front of you.
3. **Use Headlights**: Turn on your vehicle’s headlights, even during light rain, to improve your visibility to other drivers, adhering to North Carolina’s law that requires headlights when using windshield wipers.
4. **Avoid Heavy Braking**: Apply brakes gently and gradually. Sudden braking on wet roads can lead to skidding or hydroplaning.
5. **Avoid Cruise Control**: Manual control of your vehicle is crucial in adjusting speed instantly for the changing conditions without delay, which is not possible with cruise control.
6. **Watch for Standing Water**: Be alert for pooled water on the road, especially in low-lying areas, as it can lead to hydroplaning. If you start to hydroplane, gently lift off the gas and steer straight until you regain control.
7. **Maintain Your Vehicle**: Ensure your tires have adequate tread, and your brakes and windshield wipers are in good working order to perform optimally in wet conditions.
8. **Beware of Fog**: Use low-beam headlights in foggy conditions, as high beams can reflect off the fog and impair visibility further.
9. **Plan Your Travel**: If possible, avoid driving during heavy rainfall or severe weather alerts. If you must travel, allow extra time for your journey to avoid rushing.
10. **Know What to Do After an Accident**: If an accident occurs, move to a safe location if possible, call for help, exchange information with the other driver, and document the scene and damages with photos.
#rainydays #accidents #NorthCarolina #lkn