Why Is Driving on a Wet Road so Dangerous?

We’re usually accustomed to getting winter weather driving tips. We know how dangerous snow and ice can be. But sometimes, other weather conditions are ignored. Rain occurs year-round, and can be a danger to drivers that don’t know how to handle their vehicle when the roads are slippery. They may treat driving in rain as the same as driving in dry conditions. Unfortunately, this can cause accidents. If you’ve been injured by a negligent driver, Bey & Associates can help you get the justice you deserve with a car accident claim.

We understand how difficult this can be to deal with, and that’s why we’re here to provide our legal expertise. We’ll look into your accident and find out what happened, who was at fault, and calculate your compensation. Then we’ll fight to make sure you get a fair settlement that will cover costs of the accident.

You should understand how a wet road can be dangerous to drivers so you know how to be as safe as possible in inclement weather. When people think about rain and driving, they may automatically think about hydroplaning.

The Dangers of Hydroplaning

Wet roads often put drivers at risk of hydroplaning. There are often some misconceptions of hydroplaning—you don’t need to be driving in two feet of water for it to happen. In fact, it doesn’t take that much water to hydroplane at all.

Hydroplaning occurs when there’s water on the road and your vehicle’s tires can’t push it away faster than it is accumulating at the front of your vehicle. The water pressure will elevate the car so the tires no longer have direct contact with the road. There’s a layer of water in between. This greatly reduces the driver’s control of the vehicle and makes it more likely for accidents to happen. It only takes losing control for a moment to find yourself unable to avoid an accident.

There’s a risk of hydroplaning within the first 10 minutes of rain because the water mixes with oil on the roads and creates a slippery surface. Be cautious if you’re caught in a rainstorm. Make sure you slow down, give yourself time to brake, and steer gently. If you’re planning on driving and find that it starts raining, perhaps your plans could wait until road conditions clear up.

Should you find yourself in a hydroplaning situation, here are some tips to get through it as safely as possible:

• Ease off the accelerator. This will allow your car to slow down. Do not slam on the brakes, even though this will probably be your first instinct. Using the brakes may actually reduce your control of the vehicle even more.
• Try to drive straight. Make slight steering adjustments as needed. If you start jerking your wheel back and forth, your vehicle will follow. This could mean running out of your lane or swerving off the road.
• When your vehicle starts to slow down, you can gently brake because your tires will have some contact with the road.

A negligent driver may still try to speed or drive dangerously on wet roads. They’re at a higher risk of hydroplaning and crashing into people around them. The lawyers at Bey & Associates will find out how they drove negligently and how their recklessness caused your injuries.

Worn Tires Don’t Perform on Wet Roads

Old tires have certain dangers without external factors, like a sidewall collapse or a blowout, but worn down tires with barely any tread are extremely dangerous on wet roads.

Since the grip of tires is what keeps you in control of the car, poor tires without grip won’t do as well. When that’s paired with a slick layer of water, the driver is at risk of getting into an accident. The more worn the treads are, the more likely the car will hydroplane.

It’s important to regularly check your tires to see if they have enough air, have an even tread, and are free of cracks. Your tires are supposed to be rotated so the tread doesn’t wear away unevenly.

You should also avoid using functions like cruise control. This isn’t the best choice for wet road conditions. Stay in control of the vehicle so you have more options if your car loses traction.

Get Sound Legal Advice from Bey & Associates

There are legal options out there for you. Bey & Associates will look out for your best interests. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation and we’ll find the best course of action for you.