Maintaining a steady speed on long trips on the road is best achieved by using cruise control it was designed to accurately maintain your desired set speed. Few drivers are aware of the issues that can arise when using cruise control in the rain though.
There was a accident recently that happened in the rain and it occurred because the driver was using cruise control. The police officer had informed the driver that was very shaken that if you turn on cruise control your car will begin to hydro-plane and you tires will lose contact with thee road and the vehicle will accelerate to a higher speed. This is why cruise control should never be used when the road is either wet or icy. It is vitally important that motorists are aware of these dangers, in order to prevent serious or fatal accidents occurring in the future.
Read on to find out more safety tips for driving in the rain:
Slow down – it takes longer to stop in the rain, so ensure you don’t accelerate quickly or drive above the recommended speed limit. Be cautious of the potential hazards and slow down.
Keep your distance – we should all do this regardless of the weather conditions, but this is of particular importance in wet or icy driving conditions.
Turn your lights on – even in light rain and more so in foggy or glooming conditions, ensure you have your side lights on, alerting other drivers to your presence.
Maintenance – general car maintenance is self-explanatory, but specifically in relation to maximising your safety in the rain, it is important to ensure you replace old or brittle windscreen wipers.
Visibility – If the rain becomes too heavy and visibility is therefore limited, stop driving immediately; pull into a service station, or another safe place to sit out the worst of the weather.
