I have now lived in Ventura County for almost 2 years and can still count how many times it has rained! I thought it was just another song when they sang "it never rains in Southern California". See even though the official point of separation for So Cal and Nor Cal is the San Luis Obispo/ Monterey County line, we still never considered ourselves So Cal up in SLO. The rainfall alone made us if anything more like Nor Cal!

Speaking of rain, here is a confusing parking sign I spotted while visiting Pike's Market Seattle, WA

So I feel now is a good time to give a few pointers for driving in rainy weather. I do believe that many literally forget how to drive in weather being that we are spoiled with sunshine more than 50 weeks out of the year.

Take Your Time:
People drive badly enough in dry weather so of course a little water will make things worse. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination.

Beware of Wet Paint:
This is very important for those of us that also travel by two wheels. Wet lane markers, potholes and crosswalks can make for a slippery surface. Be cautious not to make aggressive lane changes or over throttle when on these surfaces as you may break traction.

Easy on the Brakes:
I always tell my friends “an aggressive driver sees your window as a door". By this I mean leaving that nice cushion between you and the car in front of you is often taken advantage of by some yahoo in a hurry to get nowhere fast. Take a deep breathe and drop back if this happens to you. The last thing you want to do is brake hard in wet weather as a brake can easily become a slide.

Track Wisely:
By this I mean try to stay towards the center of the road when possible. Our roads are crowned to help flow water to the gutters; this is why you see puddles on the curbside more so than in the center of the street. Another way to find safer ground is to drive in the tracks of the car in front of you. This works in the same way as a boat following another within its wake. This allows the lead car to help disposition some of the water on the ground thus making it a safer path.

Happy Motoring!

-Lance