Hurricane Elsa mainly spared the state, but heavy rain and high water still make roads dangerous.
GEICO has published a list of tips for drivers in Florida and other states affected by hurricanes, to help them with driving in heavy rain while remaining safe.
High water and flash flooding can rapidly become a high risk for people even when in their vehicles.
Driving in heavy rain can be a daunting experience. When done improperly, it can also be a dangerous one. Ready.gov points out that it takes as little as 6 inches of moving water to knock a person over and as little as 1 foot of moving water to sweep a vehicle away. With high water and flash flooding from summer storms, drivers in states like Florida can benefit from a regular reminder of safe techniques to use while behind the wheel.
GEICO auto insurance is hoping to help provide that reminder with the list of tips it recently published as the Atlantic Hurricane Season starts heating up. One of the top points covered was simply to avoid driving through puddles with an unknown depth. It’s far safer for a driver to turn around and find a safer route to take than to risk being stuck or swept away (personally or within the vehicle).
GEICO’s list of tips for driving in heavy rain included a number of basics all motorists should know.
The following are some of GEICO’s top steps for safely navigating roadways when water is a factor.
- Don’t drive through a puddle through which you cannot see the painted lines.
- When it’s raining hard, turn on your headlights to boost your own visibility.
- Reduce your speed to reflect the road conditions. This will help you to be able to stop in time and prevent hydroplaning.
- If you find yourself hydroplaning, take your foot off the accelerator, do not turn the steering wheel or apply the brakes. Your tire can only gain traction again if it is rotating. Braking will cause sliding, and it will not gain traction.
- Keep a safe distance away from the vehicle ahead of you. Keep in mind that you will need more room to stop, so you’ll greatly reduce the chance of a collision by leaving room. If someone is driving closely behind you, leave even more room ahead of you as you’ll need even more room to stop without the person behind you hitting you.
- Avoid high water altogether. Driving through high water is nearly always dangerous and can be fatal.
- Check your tires for inflation, wear, and other potential problems before heading out.
- Check your wiper blades before driving in heavy rain.
