You’re about to set off in your car when you notice that a heavy rain has started. Now what? How can you make sure you remain safe in wet weather? When driving in rain, you should always be more cautious than usual and leave your radio on to find out about road closures. If possible, fill up your gas tank before you leave, since your trip might take longer than usual. Read on to find out what driving tips your Mazda dealer recommends.
1. Be More Careful and Alert than Usual
Most people try to be considerate drivers, but it’s easy to briefly get distracted or drive a bit too quickly when in a rush. During wet weather, you should avoid anything that takes your focus off the road or could make it more difficult for you to stop. Remember that stopping distances are at least twice as long in rainy weather than under optimal conditions, so you need to plan accordingly.
Give all other drivers plenty of space, and keep the speed slightly under the limit. You should also check your tire depth to make sure you won’t have trouble braking when necessary. If you have worn out tires and you know you’ll have to drive in rainy conditions soon, you should visit the dealership and ask the mechanics whether you should get your tires replaced.
2. Fill Up the Gas Tank Beforehand
You’re not the only one who finds it difficult to drive in the rain. In fact, a large number of accidents happen during wet weather conditions. Therefore, you should be prepared for anything if you set off and it is raining heavily.
Filling up your gas tank and bringing some extra snacks could be a good idea because you might get stuck on the road due to an accident or road closures. The last thing you want when it is raining is to frantically search for a gas station or to run out of gas and have to call emergency services.
3. Keep the Radio On and Your Phone Charged
When the weather is bad, communication is key. If you’re caught in very rainy conditions, you should turn on the radio to find out whether there are any accidents or road closures. Knowing what’s going on ahead of time can save you the hassle of getting stuck in a long traffic jam.
You should also keep your phone charged because you might have to notify other people of the issues you are experiencing. Remember to always pull over when taking a call, especially if the weather is bad.
4. Wait a While
If the rain is extremely heavy, you should consider waiting for a while before you set off. Ask yourself whether the trip is really necessary or whether you could delay it until weather conditions improve. Often, not driving in stormy weather is the best way of preventing an accident and keeping your car in good shape.
Driving in very rainy weather can be a challenge for even the most experienced drivers. If you can’t delay your trip, you should remain careful and alert, fill up your gas tank before you set off, and listen to the radio for any updates. Send us a message at Flood Mazda in Wakefield, RI for more driving tips and to find out more about our range of new and pre-owned vehicles.
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