When driving in the rain, limited visibility and slick roads can create hazardous situations. The first step to reduce your risk of being involved in a costly accident is making sure you have adequate auto insurance coverage. Next, it’s important to adjust your driving habits to accommodate the conditions. When the weather is less than ideal, use the following tips to get to your destination safely.

5 Things to Remember When Driving in the Rain 

1. Keep Your Lights On 

Whether it’s day or night, your headlights should remain on whenever you’re driving in the rain. This is not only a good practice so other motorists can see you, but it’s also the law in most states. Drivers are typically required to have their lights on whenever visibility is low, and in some states, any time windshield wipers are in use.  

2. Slow Your Speed

Speed limits are posted with normal conditions in mind. When it’s rainy, you should adjust your speed to account for the wet pavement, which causes tires to lose traction. This means they are more likely to slide rather than grip the road as they would when it’s dry. 

3. Increase Your Following Distance

Tailgating is a leading cause of auto insurance claims, especially when it’s raining. Slippery roads, reduced visibility, and wet brakes make it much harder to come to a sudden stop when necessary. Allow plenty of room between your car and the vehicles around you to make certain everyone has enough reaction time.  

4. Don’t Use Cruise Control 

Cruise control is a useful feature when the roads are dry, but it can present a problem in rainy weather. When it’s engaged, it increases the chances of hydroplaning and can cause you to lose control. If you do hydroplane, the lack of traction may also make your vehicle accelerate. 

5. Avoid Hydroplaning 

If you are moving fast enough over puddles, your tires will skim the water’s surface and cause you to hydroplane. The best way to prevent this is to stay aware of your surroundings and reduce your speed when approaching standing water. Should you start to feel yourself hydroplane, ease off the accelerator, keep the steering wheel straight, and don’t slam on the brakes. 

Knowing how to safely operate your vehicle in the rain can avoid accidents that could result in injuries and higher auto insurance rates. If you have any questions about the quality of your current coverage, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team at Steven Hall – Farmers Insurance. We will thoroughly assess your needs to determine how much protection you require and identify if it’s time to make an adjustment to your policy. For more than 15 years, the residents of Mountain Grove, MO, have entrusted us to provide them with high caliber products from one of the industry’s most reputable companies. Call our office at (417) 926-7900, or visit us online to request an auto insurance quote.