Tips for Driving in the Rain

As a driver in Atlantic City, Egg Harbor, or Vineland, you may experience many different adverse weather conditions while out on the road. Usually the best method is to delay your trip until the weather clears up and the road conditions return back to normal. But if you need to drive somewhere and can’t wait it out, there are a handful of actions you can take to safely reach your destination.

And with rain being a common occurrence, it’s good to know what to do when you’re caught out in a storm or heavy rainfall. Here are a few tips for driving in the rain that our service team at BMW of Atlantic City has pointed out below.

Turn on Your Headlights

Right away, you’ll want to slow your speed down and turn your headlights on when driving in the rain. Not only is it a law in many states that your lights must be on when you’re using the windshield wipers, but it also makes you easier to see for the other drivers around you.

When it’s raining, visibility is low. So, having your headlights on makes you more noticeable and helps you see what’s in front of you better as well. All in all, this can help avoid a collision.

Leave More Distance Between You and the Vehicle in Front of You

When the roads get wet, they become very slick and your traction is reduced. This means when you go to brake, it will take a little longer for your car to come to a complete stop. So, leaving more distance in between you and the car in front of you will give you more of a buffer to slowly and safely come to a stop.

Be Aware of the Potential of Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is when your car loses traction due to the water that is on top of the road causing your vehicle to uncontrollably slide. To minimize the risk of hydroplaning, you’ll want to make sure you’re traveling at a slow speed and your tires have the proper amount of tread on them.

If you do start to hydroplane, slowly let off the gas, gently steering in the direction you want to go, and don’t hit the brakes.

Avoid Standing Water

Standing water can also cause you to lose control and hydroplane. You’ll want to also avoid roads that have an excessive amount of water sitting on top of them.

Driving through standing water can also cause damage to electrical systems in your car as well as the engine. And with it being hard to tell just how deep the water on the road is, a general recommendation is not to drive through the water on the road if you can’t see the painted lines.

Have Your Car Ready for the Rain

There are proactive ways you can have your car prepared to safely help you travel if you do get caught in the rain while driving. Having the tires checked for wear and possibly getting them rotated or replaced will make sure you’ll get enough traction while driving around Atlantic City, Egg Harbor, and Vineland.

You can schedule this routine maintenance and other services with us at BMW of Atlantic City today!