Driving Safely in the Rain and Fog

If you live in Florida, then you’re already aware that the weather can be somewhat unpredictable. In a perfect world, the roads would always be clear and the sun would always be shining bright enough to keep them nice and dry, but not too much to the point where a visor and sunglasses would be needed. Unfortunately, the perfect world doesn’t exist and adverse weather such as rain and fog can make any commute a bit more challenging than normal.

Car Driving in the Fog

Driving in Fog

Fog, it’s beautiful, but also dark and mysterious. There’s a reason why fog has appeared so frequently in many horror films, it can obscure any landscape and hide objects that would normally be in plain sight. If you find yourself driving through a fog as thick as pea soup, there are some basic precautions you should take.

  • Slow Down Because your normal vision isn’t what it normally is, objects can seem to appear out of nowhere. Driving at a slower speed will improve your reaction time.
  • Turn on Your Lights Turning on your headlights will not only help you see a little more clearly, it will also alert others to your presence.
  • Stay in Your Lane Until Necessary Staying in your lane and only leaving to change when you have to is one of the best precautions you can make. If you’re having trouble seeing other drivers, they also have trouble seeing you. Not changing lanes suddenly or frequently will limit the chances of a collision.

Driving in the Rain

While driving in the rain isn’t as dangerous as fog, it can be difficult. Cold weather means rain-soaked roads can get slippery. Heavy rain raises the risk of your car hydroplaning, so exercise caution if the rain starts to fall.

  • Slow Your Speed This isn’t a race. Even if the other drivers are moving fast, going at a slower speed will improve reaction time and allow you to maintain control.
  • Don’t Slam on Your Brakes Slick roads are harder to stop on. For this reason, don’t slam on your brakes too suddenly, your car might skid.
  • Don’t Tailgate Other Drivers While tailgating under normal circumstances is never a good idea, in the rain, it’s a TERRIBLE idea. You need to allow yourself plenty of space to allow for reaction time whenever the weather is bad.
  • Use Turn Signals Early This is another precaution that allows the other drivers on the road time to react to you when you’re changing lanes.

Sarasota Car Sales

While the weather can be uncertain, one thing that isn’t is the top quality service and inventory you’ll find at Sarasota Auto Sales. We make purchasing a vehicle easy and offer financing for any budget. Visit our website at sarasotacarsales.com and allow us to put you in the drivers’ seat.