According to east-texas.com, East Texas gets the most rainfall in the state with as much as 35–60 inches falling annually. This rain can come from various sources: anything from a soft spring storm to tornado deluges, to the heavy rains carried by a hurricane making its’ way inland.
In East Texas, rain can come on unexpectedly and if you’re driving, the road and visibility can quickly become dangerous.
Treacherous driving conditions caused by wet roads are a factor in 1.2 million traffic accidents across the nation every year according to AAA.
If you’re caught in an East Texas rainstorm, no matter how big or small, it’s important to be prepared. Here’s a list of essential safety checks before driving in rainy weather:
If you’ve ever been caught in a rainstorm with wiper blades that aren’t working properly, you understand how dangerous that situation can become. Heavy rains can cause zero visibility conditions without properly working windshield wipers.
Depending on how often you use them, it’s recommended that you change your wiper blades every six months to a year. However, if you notice that they’re not working properly it’s important that you change them immediately.
If you know how, you can change your wiper blades yourself, but it’s also a good idea to have your wiper blades checked and changed by your local auto mechanic when you bring your car, truck, or SUV in for regular maintenance such as an oil change.
Tire maintenance is essential when it comes to road safety. You should make sure your local auto mechanic shop checks your tires when you have your annual car tune-up. This is especially true if you drive a lot. People who commute often wear their tires down more quickly because of frequency of use.
Trusted East Texas mechanics such as Stewart’s Donnybrook Automotive pay attention to important safety details such as tire tread.
A car that has worn tire treads won’t be able to stop or slow down as safely on wet roads, which can cause your vehicle to go into a skid. If your car skids it can go off the road or slide into other vehicles. Such conditions can lead to multi-vehicle accidents.
In the event you have an accident because of rain, it’s important to have a trusted local auto mechanic shop that offers roadside assistance/evening and weekend assistance.
There are fewer things more important than brakes when it comes to the safety of your vehicle. This is true whether you’re in rainy conditions or not.
Brakes that haven’t been serviced or changed recently won’t function properly when you need them, which can cause an accident. This is especially true when they become wet. It’s essential that you keep your brakes maintained and working properly.
Anyone who’s ever experienced a heavy East Texas rainstorm knows how quickly the visibility can disappear, causing incredibly dangerous driving conditions.
Having working headlights and taillights can mean all the difference when it comes to safely arriving at your destination. When you have your vehicle serviced, your mechanic should check to make sure that all headlights, blinkers, and brake lights are working properly.
Keeping your lights on while driving in heavy rain conditions means your vehicle is more visible to the cars coming at you, which will help avoid an accident.
One way to ensure that all of the above are working properly is to make sure you have regular vehicle services at a trusted East Texas mechanic.
There are times you might not notice that the tread on your tires is becoming worn, or that your headlights aren’t working as well as they’re supposed to. But your mechanic will notice and fix, replace, or service whatever needs to be done so that you can drive safely in rainy weather.
· Don’t use cruise control. Cruise control is great on smooth roads with clear visibility and good driving conditions but can quickly become dangerous in wet weather. Cruise control can cause you to go too fast for conditions. If you have to brake suddenly you could go into a skid, causing an accident.
· Keep a larger than usual amount of distance between you and other vehicles. When roads are wet it’s harder to stop suddenly. If you’re forced to brake quickly, you might not stop as soon as necessary, causing you to rear end the vehicle in front of you. If you’re going fast, this scenario can too easily become a fatal traffic accident.
· Turn on Your Headlights. Having your headlights on while you drive is a simple way to help your vehicle be more visible on the road, which will help keep you and other drivers safe.
· Slow Down. We’ve all encountered the folks that continue to drive at or above the speed limit in rainy conditions. Unnecessary speed is an unnecessary way to put yourself and others in danger. If you’re driving in wet weather, it’s simple: slow down.
While driving in the rain can be intimidating, there are many steps you can take to keep yourself and others safe. Make an appointment for a service with your local mechanic and know that the next time it rains, you’re prepared.
