A high number of accidents occur when people drive in the rain, and many of the drivers involved in these incidents have had their licenses and operated vehicles for a long time. Therefore, practicing in the rain is especially unsafe for new drivers. While it’s necessary to acquire skills for all driving conditions, the experienced professionals from Altra Insurance Services, a premier provider of seguro de auto chula vista drivers trust for reliable service and affordable coverage, explain why it can be unsafe to practice driving a car in the rain and offer suggestions to use if you happen to be practicing when it’s raining.
Visibility
Rain can significantly reduce visibility, making it challenging to operate the car properly. Poor visibility could also result when other vehicles splash water and debris on your car because of the rain. If you cannot see dangerous situations or assess conditions as they change on the road, you could experience an accident.
You should only operate a vehicle if weather conditions allow for good visibility. This includes practicing on local streets and highways. Once the rain has gone away and the roads are dry and clear, you can begin again with a well-trained driver in the passenger seat.
Slippery Roads
Friction between your car’s tires and the road creates points of contact that allow the tires to grab the surface safely, leading to good traction. Rain makes the roads slippery and prevents this from happening. As a result, skidding is more likely to occur. Hydroplaning is difficult to avoid during rain, especially on highways. Roads could become covered in standing water, and controlling your vehicle may become difficult or even impossible.
If it starts to rain while you’re practicing your driving skills, pull over to the nearest safe location and wait for the weather to clear up. If an experienced driver is riding with you, let him or her drive back home, and try to practice another day when the weather is clear.
Things to Remember
If practicing in the rain is necessary, you must remain cautious and drive slowly. The decreased traction on the road and the reduction in visibility put your safety at risk. However, moving slowly gives you more time in an emergency to think about the right choice, such as stopping or switching lanes.
Give other drivers additional space. Tailgating could make stopping difficult when the roads are slippery, increasing the risk of an accident and severe injury. The additional space provides extra seconds to move out of the way or stop to avoid a crash. You should also know where you’re going before driving to reduce the risk of getting lost and experiencing uncertainty and fear, which could distract you when you need to pay attention the most.
Select a Safe Driving Location
Sometimes a driving test is upcoming or you want to learn to operate your car on the road safely, so you must get in the practice. Therefore, selecting an adequate location is essential. Small towns typically have less traffic than larger cities. Consider practicing in an empty parking lot, which allows you to move around freely without hitting another vehicle or objects. When there are slippery roads, you should refrain from driving where there are a lot of cars, buildings, and people until after the rain has stopped and the area is dry.
Being cautious while driving in the rain may reduce the risks of unwanted incidents, but in the event you do have an accident, it’s important to have adequate seguro de auto. San Diego drivers can reach out to Altra Insurance Services for affordable insurance coverage. Give us a call to receive a complimentary quote.