3/4/2023 0 Comments Driving in heavy rainWhile there is no denying that inclement weather can play a role in car accidents, drivers are still responsible for behaving as safely as possible while behind the wheel. Taking Action After a Car Accident in Heavy Rain Look for a parking lot that you can safely pull into while you wait out the rain when traveling through more urban or suburban areas.Īlthough it may add time to your journey, it is always better to arrive late and safe than to never arrive at all. If you are on a highway or interstate, the shoulder of the road should be large enough to safely move your vehicle over into. ![]() Since visibility is limited, you must be sure that you pull your vehicle over in a place that is safe. Doing so can be tricky if you’re caught in heavy rain while driving, though. It does not matter how close you might be to your destination-if conditions seem too dangerous to drive, pull over. Even if your vehicle is not swept away, it might become stuck, leaving you stranded until the rainwater recedes. Water can easily sweep a vehicle off the road even if it does not appear to be flowing that fast. If this is not possible, wait until the water has receded before continuing safely on your journey. If you encounter a flooded road with standing water, turn around or find a different route. When a road follows a natural dip, it creates a curve in which rainwater may collect much more quickly than in other areas. Although any road may be subject to a design flaw, older roads are especially prone to following the natural ups and downs of the land. During heavy rain, the ground may reach maximum absorption more quickly, which leaves nowhere for water on the road to run off. While you might look forward to a rainy day and think about how much the plants will love it, the truth is that the ground beneath our feet can only absorb so much water at once. Debris that blocks drains can also cause standing water on roads. When rainfall is particularly heavy, the drains can be overwhelmed and unable to handle the volume, leaving water nowhere else to go. Drains are only able to handle so much runoff during rainy weather. There are a few reasons why rain can accumulate on the roadway. Never drive through areas with standing water. To keep yourself and everyone else safe, Thomas Law Offices strongly recommends that hazard lights never be used to increase visibility during heavy rain. When proceeding through an area of heavy rain, drivers should only be focused on the task at hand and not on trying to determine whether there is a nearby emergency for which they should call 911. Using your hazard lights can also falsely lead other drivers to believe that there is an emergency. For this same reason, you should also avoid turning on your high beams when it is raining. Light is reflected off the raindrops as they fall, creating a glare and limiting your ability to see much else beyond it. Turning on your hazards while driving through heavy rain will decrease your and other drivers’ visibility. This has the opposite of the intended effect. Don’t Use Your Hazard Lightsĭrivers are often tempted to turn on their hazard lights during periods of heavy rain to make themselves more visible to other drivers. Slowing down when you are caught in heavy rain while driving will help prevent hydroplaning. This makes roads even slicker and more difficult for tires to gain and maintain traction. ![]() ![]() Rainwater will also mix with any oil and grease produced by motor vehicles left on the roadway. Speed and heavy rain can be a deadly combination as you may not be able to come to a full and complete stop should a hazard arise. Speed also plays a factor in stopping distance, meaning that the faster you drive, the longer it takes to stop. It can take as much as twice as long to come to a stop during heavy rain than during ideal driving conditions when roads are dry. To give yourself time to react, you should always slow your speed and create distance between vehicles. Heavy rain limits visibility, making it impossible to look much farther ahead than perhaps a few feet. This means looking ahead two blocks in urban areas, three blocks or three traffic signals ahead in suburban areas, and about a quarter of a mile ahead in rural areas. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) encourages drivers to constantly scan the road around them. If you are unsure of what to do, try matching your speed to other drivers who have also slowed down, although reducing your speed by approximately one-third is generally well-advised.ĭriving in heavy rain is dangerous for numerous reasons, including: When you are caught in heavy rain while behind the wheel, reduce your speed to lower than the posted speed limit. The easiest way to limit your chance of being involved in a car accident while it is raining is simple-slow down.
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