Clean the inside and outside of the windows regularly to remove dirt, dust, mud, smoke, fingerprints, grime, and other materials. If your windows fog up, turn on the air conditioning or cold air in the car and aim the vents at the windows. Turn on the rear defroster, and open the windows if necessary to increase the airflow.
Check regularly to make sure none of your lights have burnt out, and replace dead lights immediately. This includes headlights, brake lights, turn signals, tail lights, and running lights. Keep the light covers on your car clean so that dust and dirt don’t reduce their efficacy.
New tires generally have about 10/32 of an inch of tread. Tires should be replaced when the tread gets to 4/32 of an inch. Tires with 2/32 of an inch or less of tread are unsafe and shouldn’t be used. [2] X Trustworthy Source Consumer Reports Nonprofit organization dedicated to consumer advocacy and product testing Go to source
Replace your wipers every year to prevent them from cracking, breaking, or not sealing properly when you need them most. Try a hydrophobic washer fluid that will cause water to bead up and drip off your windshield, rather than sticking to it and blocking your view.
Wet roads can reduce your traction by about a third, so you should also reduce your speed by a third. [3] X Research source Even small amounts of water can make the road more slippery, because the water mixes with oils on the road, and this creates a greasy layer. Driving too quickly on wet roads can lead to hydroplaning, which means that your tires lose contact with the road. When a car hydroplanes, you have very little control in terms of steering or braking.
Keeping your eyes on the road at all times Paying attention to what drivers and pedestrians are doing around you. Turning off the radio, and ignoring your cell phone and other electronic devices. Ceasing any conversations you were having with passengers. Not eating, reading, or putting on makeup while driving.
First of all, your headlights will make it easier for other drivers to see your car. Second, rain typically means cloudy skies, and turning your lights on will help you see the road better. [4] X Research source
While traditional wisdom said to drive with your hands at 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock on the steering wheel, this increases the chances of injury from airbags in case of a collision. [5] X Research source
To determine how many seconds you are behind another car, make note of when that car passes a landmark (like a street sign) and then count how many seconds it takes before your car passes that same landmark. Leaving space includes leaving an opening where you can escape quickly if necessary. To do this, make sure you always leave at least one open space beside or in front of you that you can move into.
Instead of braking, you can also slow yourself down by easing off the accelerator, and downshifting if you have a manual transmission. Not being able to stop as quickly in the rain is another reason why it’s so important to leave extra space between your car and the one in front of you.
Just like with driving, you should reduce the speed of your turns by about a third when it’s raining.
Other things that can reduce your visibility include the glare from other car lights and lightning. You may also need to pull over if there’s too much water on the road, the road is too slick, or you simply don’t feel safe. To pull over safely, turn on your signal, check your mirror and blind spots, pull over as far as possible to the side of the road, and turn on your four-way lights.
Moving water is too deep if you cannot see the ground. Don’t proceed through deep water if it comes higher than the bottom of your door. If you encounter these types of road flooding, turn around and find another route. In a case where the only route is blocked, pull over and wait out the flooding.
Stay calm Avoid turning the steering wheel Ease your foot off the accelerator Apply slow and gentle pressure to the brakes
To prevent skidding, always brake before entering a turn or curve, then let your foot off the brake before the turn. [14] X Research source
