Safety first, christmas aside just for a bit..?

Question

im a fairly new driver, and lately there has been alot of heavy rain where i live (in Trinidad) in some areas there are flooding and sometimes alot of water. can anyone give me some tips on handling situations like that, how i can successfully take full control of the car and avoid any problems. i drive an automatic car..

Answer 1

Good points from the above answers.

But because i live in Trini too and have been driving for God knows how long, the safest thing to do is to take your time. In flood waters try to guage the height of the water, compare to cars already driving through and if you decide to go on keep a steady pace don't stop. You should try to avoid driving through flood waters cause both you and i know the kind of stuff that is in there.

As a new driver go sign up for a defensive driving course, it will help a lot. Plus you get discounts on insurance. Even experienced drivers still have something to learn on those courses.

Answer 2

The biggest issue to take into consideration is that a wet road is more slippery than a dry road. Your tires lose traction and adherence to the road because there's a film of liquid between them and the asphalt. Thus, you should leave extra space between you and the car in front of you. Brake earlier and with less force than you would normally. Not only does this increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also lets the driver behind you know that you're slowing down. Also, be more meticulous about using turn signals, so that other drivers know your intentions, and take turns and curves with less speed than you would in dry conditions.

Most of America's roads are crowned in the middle, which means that the water will run off to the sides. If possible, stay on the middle of the road to avoid deep standing puddles.

If you see a large pool of brackish water ahead of you, if at all possible, drive around it or choose a different route. It could be that it's covering a huge gaping maw into the front door of h**l. Well, nah, but water splashing up into your engine compartment can damage your internal electrical systems. Also, a pothole may be hiding under the water, just waiting in ambush to damage a wheel. If you can't gauge the depth, or if it's covering up the side curb, try to avoid it.

Don't attempt to cross running water; this ain't an SUV commercial, and you'll probably get into a heckuva lot of trouble if the force of the water is greater than the weight of your vehicle. Save the whitewater ride for the Colorado River or a Clinton scandal.

After you cross a puddle, tap on your brake pedal lightly to dry off some of the water on your rotors.

Turn on your headlights, even when there's a light sprinkle. It helps you see the road, and more importantly, it helps other motorists see you. However, don't blast your high beams in the rain or fog -- it'll obscure your view further, as the beam will reflect back at you on the water droplets in the air.

Watch out for pedestrians. Fiddling with an umbrella or a rain slicker means that a usually observant pedestrian is otherwise distracted. Plus, raindrops deaden sound, so the usual audio clues for measuring car distances become obscured. Keep a sharp lookout for people in the road.

If it's raining so hard that you can't see the road or the car in front of you, pull over and wait it out. This editor had the best sandwich of her life when she stopped for a Blimpie's in Louisiana after getting caught in a deluge during a cross-country trip.

If there's a chance that the rain will freeze, double your precautions. Carry snow chains, as well as a supply of salt, sand or kitty litter (make sure Fluffy hasn't relieved herself in it first). When your tires are spinning on a patch of ice, place some of said material around the drive wheels to gain traction. It also helps to have a small shovel to remove excess ice and snow from around the tires and to be in second gear rather than first

Answer 3

girl i wish i could give you a good answer but right now my driver's license is just another form of ID in my bag. i cannot even remember when last i got behind the wheel of a car. i don't even know if i remember how to drive!

Answer 4

When the road is wet, the film of the water on the asphalt causes tires to lose traction. Less obvious is the fact that rain reduces driver perception — it's harder to see through the rain — and also decreases visibility through its action on headlights, windshields and the road itself. While most people know to slow down in the rain, there are definitely other tips that will help keep you, and those who share the road with you, from becoming a statistic.

Exercise extreme caution after a long dry spell. During a dry period, engine oil and grease build up on the road over time. When mixed with water from a new rainfall, the road becomes extremely slick. Continued rainfall will eventually wash away the oil, but the first few hours can be the most dangerous.

Allow for more travel time. You should plan to drive at a slower pace than normal when the roads are wet. Keep in mind that traffic is likely to be moving slower as well. There's also the possibility that your preplanned route may be flooded or jammed. Whatever the case, rushing equals higher risk.

Brake earlier and with less force than you would normally. Not only does this increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also lets the driver behind you know that you're slowing down. Also, be more meticulous about using turn signals, so that other drivers know your intentions, and take turns and curves with less speed than you would in dry conditions.

If possible, stay toward the middle of the road to avoid deep standing puddles.

Don't use cruise control. If you hydroplane, there's the chance your car could actually accelerate. Cruise control also allows drivers to be less vigilant and to take their foot away from the pedals — not a great idea when reaction time is so important.

If you see a large puddle up ahead, drive around it or choose a different route. It could be that it's covering a huge gaping maw into the front door of h**l. Well, maybe not, but water splashing up into your car's engine compartment could damage its internal electrical systems. Also, a pothole may be hiding under the water, just waiting in ambush to damage a wheel or knock your suspension out of alignment. If you can't gauge the depth, or if it's covering up the side curb, try to avoid it.

After you cross a puddle, tap on your brake pedal lightly to dry off some of the water on your rotors.

Turn on your headlights, even when there's a light sprinkle. It helps you see the road, and more importantly, it helps other motorists see you. However, don't blast your high beams in the rain or fog — it'll obscure your view further, as the light will reflect back at you off the water droplets in the air. If your car is equipped with foglights, you may find it helpful to turn these on, as they throw a little extra light on the road while making your car easier to see.

If it's raining so hard that you can't see the road or the car in front of you, pull over and wait it out.

If you start to hydroplane, don't brake suddenly or turn the wheel, or you might spin into a skid. Release the gas pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).

Be safe out there!!!