Safety Tips For Driving In The Rain

While rain is a common enough occurrence in other states, Nevada only gets rain about 40 days per year. In the southern region of the state, residents typically only see rain 25 days out of the year. Not surprisingly, many people forget how to drive in it. Knowing how rain contributes to accidents and how to adapt can help you keep a level head during a surprise storm.

Carefully Assess Conditions

Roads are built to handle the weather of the climate they are in, so if your city gets an unusual weather event, the safety of the roads may be compromised. In Las Vegas, roads are particularly slick at the beginning of the storm. That is because they are built without a drainage layer. Dust, oil and grime collect on the surface of the road. When it rains and these mix with water, the dirt settles to the bottom and the oil rises to the top, creating a very slick surface. Knowing what to expect and adjusting accordingly can help you avoid an accident.

Maintain a Cushion Between You and Other Drivers

The posted speed limit may be too fast in a heavy storm, especially if traffic flow is slowed. As much as possible, keep a distance of 5 seconds between you and the car in front of you.

Make Sure You Are Prepared

Driving in heavy rain is challenging, but it is even more so if you cannot see because your windows are dirty or it has been too long since you have replaced your windshield wipers. At least monthly, clean the inside and outside of your windows and windshield. Make sure you top off your windshield washer fluid weekly and aim to replace your wiper blades at least annually.

Make Sure Your Headlights Are On

If you have a newer vehicle, then your headlights probably turn on automatically when you turn your windshield wipers on. This is not necessarily so that you can see the road but so that other drivers can easily see your vehicle. While ensuring that your headlights are on is a good idea, make sure you leave your brights off. The light will reflect off the wet road, which may negatively impact how well you (and other drivers) see.​

Rethink Your Trip

Sometimes, traveling in inclement weather is unavoidable. A storm can seemingly come out of nowhere when you are already on the road, and not every trip can be rescheduled. However, when it is possible to do so, the best option is to simply wait out the storm.

Protecting Your Vehicle with Nevada Insurance Enrollment

Accidents happen to even the most careful drivers. Unfortunately, in dangerous conditions such as heavy rain, following these tips is not always enough to avoid an accident if another driver loses control of their own vehicle. At Nevada Insurance Enrollment, our auto insurance agents help you find robust coverage to protect you whether an accident is your fault or not.