AAA offers tips for driving in wet, windy conditions

By Shelia Poole

Sept 11, 2017

If you have to go out in Monday’s rainy and windy weather there are some driving tips you might want to follow.

Roadways are already experiencing some problems.

AAA - The Auto Club Group is advising motorists to be extra careful and , if possible, to delay travel until the storm passes.

Trucks, vans, SUVs and trailers are more vulnerable to high wind gusts and could potentially be pushed around or flipped by high winds. If winds are severe, safely pull over onto the shoulder of the road and stop. AAA is urging drivers to stay up-to-date on local weather forecasts and road conditions.

Tips for Drivers During Strong Storms and Heavy Winds

Anticipate gusts- Pay attention when driving through areas prone to strong winds or when weather reports forecast severe weather.
Reduce speed and avoid using cruise control
Firmly grip the steering wheel. Know your vehicle, light cars, vans and other "boxy" vehicles are more likely to be blown by strong gusts of wind.
Increase space between your vehicle and other motorists, especially vans, recreational vehicles and cars pulling trailers which may be adversely affected by the wind.

Tips for Driving on Wet Roads

Slow down and leave room: Slowing down during wet weather driving can be critical to reducing a car's chance of hydroplaning, when the tires rise up on a film of water. With as little as ½ inch of water on the road, tires have to displace a gallon of water per second to keep the rubber meeting the road. Drivers should reduce their speed to correspond to the amount of water on the roadway. At speeds as low as 35 mph, new tires can still lose some contact with the roadway. Also, it is important for motorists to allow ample stopping distance between cars by increasing the following distance of the vehicle in front of them and beginning to slow down to stop for intersections, turns and other traffic early.
Avoid cruise control: This feature works great in dry conditions, but when used in wet conditions, the chance of losing control of the vehicle can increase. To prevent loss of traction, the driver may need to reduce the car's speed by lifting off the accelerator, which cannot be accomplished when cruise control is engaged.
Rainy conditions can cause low visibility: Turn on your headlights to help you see better and to allow other motorists to spot you better. Avoid using your high beams because you could blind other drivers and the extra light will reflect off the rain, causing more of a distraction for you.
Avoid standing water and flooded roads: There is no way to tell how deep standing water is on a flooded road and driving through it can cause a vehicle to stall and result in severe damage to the vehicle,