Defensive Driving Strategies For Rainy Days In Calgary
September 26, 2022
As you might have noticed, temperatures are getting quite comfortable and mild with each passing day, signaling the arrival of the fall season. However, the latter does not mean that the rainy days are gone. According to Weather Atlas, Calgary records about eight rainy days in September. Thus, occasional thunderstorms and random rain showers may catch you off guard and ruin your plans if you are not very careful.
If you are a frequent driver, you surely understand how daunting and dangerous driving in the rain can be. Some of you may regard rainy weather as the perfect time to dine at your favourite restaurant while enjoying the soft pitter-patter sounds of raindrops on the pavement. However, your vehicle and its condition after roaming the slick roads might not necessarily agree with you. As Calgary’s top-rated towing company, we are eyewitnesses to numerous small and big road miseries, including minor slips, collisions, hydroplaning, and even severe road accidents.
Evidently, rainy days pose considerable potential damage to vehicles and their owners. But that does not mean rainy weather is a gloomy situation in which you should not drive. Although it is recommended to avoid driving in severe weather conditions, we understand that your personal circumstances may demand otherwise.
For instance, you may have no choice but to continue driving home if the rain starts after you leave your workplace. Nonetheless, prudence and precaution can save you from numerous adverse events.
If you are amongst those who can’t avoid driving in the rain, we have devised a defensive plan of action for your safety. This blog post presents a simple yet valuable and result-oriented defensive strategy in the form of driving tips to ensure your safety on a rainy day.
Adequate preparation means the difference between a safe trip and a frustrating experience. Thus, before you start driving, carry out primary checks on your vehicle if rain is forecasted for that day. Firstly, ensure that the tires are inflated and can provide the necessary traction. Then, move on to examine the functionality of your windshield wipers and lights.
Read Also: Tire Safety Tips For The Summer
Despite adequate preparations, breakdowns and accidents are sometimes a matter of fate. Thus, even the most sophisticated automobiles surprisingly break down and leave their owners stranded on the road. Since such occurrences are inevitable, it would be a good idea to always have a reputed roadside assistance service provider’s contact number in your phone at all times.
In case of any mishap, you will not have to rummage through a search engine to look for a towing company on the spot. Instead, a towing or recovery service provider will be just a phone call away.
On a rainy day, driving at high speeds is the biggest and most unforgiving mistake drivers commit. It is imperative to remember that wet roads intensify the odds of skids and slips. The situation might be frustrating, but speeding is definitely not a solution. In such weather conditions, speeding will only increase the likelihood of mishaps instead of quickly getting you to your destination.
Although the chances of heavy rains are minimal in September, the weather may decide to surprise you one day with heavy showers. In that case, it is likely that the roads and surrounding areas will be flooded. In order to avoid getting stuck in the water, always drive in the middle lane as the sides are often more prone to flooding.
The most frustrating and annoying problem for drivers on a rainy day is obstructed vision. While wipers do a great job of ridding the windscreen of rainwater, they can’t do anything about the condensation within the vehicle. Therefore, we advise that you turn on your defrosters to clear the windshield. Similarly, turning on your headlights will also help.
Sudden brakes seldom work in wet weather conditions. Most of the time, abrupt pressure on the brakes leads to hydroplaning and loss of control over a car. Hence, you must always brake gently.
Undoubtedly, hydroplaning is the most dreaded nightmare for drivers. Nothing feels worse than knowing that you can do very little behind the wheel of a vehicle in the middle of the road with traffic approaching from all directions. Skidding also gives a similar frightful sensation. However, panicking is not the solution. Instead of violently stomping on the brake pedals, try to regain control by slowly steering the vehicle in the direction you want it to go.
Bonus Tip: Never use cruise control.
Lastly, always respect the other drivers and maintain a safe distance between your vehicle and other automobiles.
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