How amazing is this? Only days into the year and rain is falling. Yes I joke, I grew up in Northern California where rain is expected in the winter, not questioned! I know everyone else in SoCal loves 340 days of sunshine but I'm not one of those people.
So what do we do when the rain falls? Well, some of us forget how to drive evidently. I could go on for hours about water displacement, tires and rules of the road, but I have a feeling those that in this wet weather.
Tires: Ever notice how bald tires handle in dry weather? This is due to better surface contact with the road. But when the rainfalls the excellent handling comes to an end. Why? We have tread and sipes (little cuts in tread) on tires to help displace water, among other things. Without displacing the water you end up in a hydroplane scenario which many of you may have experienced before. So if you were holding out on new shoes for your sled, wait no more. Remember, tires are the only thing connecting you to the road.
Windshield Wipers & RainX: All vehicles sold today are equipped with wipers. Although we seldom use these in these parts, they are a necessity in times like these. Some manufacturers recommend replacement of wipers twice a year; once is fine in our part of the country. To give added security I also suggest applying a nice coat of RainX. Talk about a must-have for added piece of mind. This product can be found in any parts store, even at Target. RainX takes minutes to apply and is a lifesaver if you lose a blade or if your wipers fail all together. This is also a great product to keep bug clean up a breeze as well.
NOTE:As of January 1, 2005 You must turn on your headlights if snow, rain, fog, or low-visibility (1000 feet or less) require the use of windshield wipers.
Attention: (buy this I mean paying attention) This comes free but many people fail to apply enough of it when driving. I warned of cell phone laws going into effect on July 1st (hands-free required for over 18, no mobile device use at all for under 18). Adverse weather conditions all the more reason for such laws to be applied. How many times have you seen someone on the phone while driving swerve to avoid an accident? In rain when you swerve, you slide.
Be safe out there and obey all laws while in the rain, officers don't take speeding and aggressive driving lightly when weather plays such a major role.
Happy Motoring,
Lance
Comments? Questions? Click on the comments button below and talk to me!
RainX website: http://www.rainx.com/
With the parade of storms that have hit the VC area, a word comes to mind when driving, "frustrating". I agree it seems many drivers can't adapt to wet weather. I commute on the 101 daily and several times for no apparent reason the average speed was around 15 mph or less[?]. Hydroplaning isn't likely [with a reasonable set of tires] at speeds under 50. It's fine to be cautious, but why folks drive really slow is a mystery to me. And, if they're uncomfortable keeping up with the flow of traffic they should merge right to the slower lanes.
Tip: Using cruise-control is not recommended when experiencing wet road conditions.