The Winter Rain is Here!
Driving tips from the local attorneys near you in Centralia and Olympia! Many drivers forget the basics that could help them avoid a collision and car accident. Here are a couple tips to keep you and your family safe.
Plan Ahead
Planning is easier said than done. The best advice for driving in heavy rain and slick conditions is to simply avoid it, if possible. However, if travel is unavoidable, plan your trip to avoid the most hazardous and congested highways and roads. And, be sure to build in extra time.
Slow Down
Vision is poor, reactions times are slower, and slick roads means automobiles are harder to stop. To prevent collisions, try driving 10 miles an hour slower than usual. This will give you more time to brake and delivers more control over the vehicle.
Olympia and Centralia Injury Attorneys at (360) 736-1301
Leave Room
Leaving room between you and the vehicle ahead of you can prevent an injury causing collision. With as little as 1/12 inch of water on the road, tires must displace a gallon of water per second to keep your tires from hydroplaning. By slowing down and giving your vehicle extra space to break, you can avoid a collision and injuries.
Turn on your Headlights
Turning your lights on in heavy rain and dark conditions is not only safer but the law. According to RCW 46.37.020, “Every vehicle upon a highway within this state at any time from a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise and at any other time when due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of one thousand feet.” Lights on a vehicle not only help you see the hazardous conditions on the road, but the lights help others see you.
Avoid Cruise Control
Most modern cars feature cruise control. This feature works great in dry conditions, but when used in wet conditions, the chance of losing control of the vehicle increases. To prevent loss of traction, the driver may need to reduce the car’s speed by lifting off the accelerator, which cannot be accomplished when cruise control is engaged.
Responding to a Skid
Even careful drivers can experience skids. If a driver feels their car begin to skid, it’s important to not panic and follow these basic steps:
• Continue to look and steer in the direction in which you want to go; and
• Avoid slamming on the brakes as this will further upset the vehicle’s balance and make it harder to control.
If you feel the car begin to skid, continue to look and steer in the direction you want the car to go. Don’t panic, and avoid slamming on the brakes to maintain control.
Keep your car maintained
You can only drive as safely as your vehicle allows. Make sure that your headlights, brakes, wipers, and the tread on your tires are all in good working condition.
Contact Althauser Rayan Abbarno in Centralia or Olympia!
The Injury Attorneys with Althauser Rayan Abbarno are located near you!
If you or someone was injured in an automobile collision, be sure to schedule your FREE Injury Consultation with our Attorneys in Centralia or Olympia by calling (360) 736-1301 or visiting CentraliaLaw.com
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