7 Tips For Driving In Stormy Weather

After a month of severe weather ravished the country, Allstate Corp. announced a $178 million catastrophe loss estimate for May. The insurance company said a significant portion of the claims came from auto damage incurred by heavy rains and flooding, particularly in Oklahoma and Texas.

Historically, the company's auto claims account for only around 15 percent of the total losses during the second quarter. However, this year auto claims took up 30 percent of the losses, due in large part to four major rain events, which accounted for 77 percent of the increase.

While these heavy rains can cause outright damage to vehicles, motorists also need to ensure they take the necessary precautions to drive safely if they are caught in a storm.

Here are seven safety tips for driving during a storm:

1. Prepare your car

Once the first few drops of water start hitting your windshield, you should immediately turn on your windshield wipers and your headlights. According to the AAA, only 19 states require you to have the headlights on with the wipers, however, it is wise to have them on even if the law doesn't mandate it. This not only improves your view, it also helps oncoming traffic see you too. If you're on the highway, turn off the cruise control since this reduces your control of the vehicle.

2. Focus on the road

When the rainwater first hits the dry road, it mixes with built-up oil and grease deposits, making the roads incredibly slick. This makes the initial moments of a rainstorm more dangerous than if it has been raining for a while, since the water will eventually wash away the build up.

3. Slow down sooner

The rain will make the roads wetter and more slippery, which makes it take longer to come to a full stop. When approaching a red light or traffic, be sure you begin the braking process earlier and slower than usual to give yourself additional time to halt your forward progression without the car sliding.This reduces the chances of the vehicle hydroplaning.

4. Keep calm

No matter how safely you drive, there is always a chance the car will end up hydroplaning. If this happens, don't panic and slam on the brakes or spin the wheel, since this could cause the car to spin out. Edmunds.com recommended slowly taking your foot off the brake pedal as you calmly keep steering straight and the car will eventually regain traction.

5. Avoid puddles

Even the deepest puddles can appear shallow. If you approach a puddle, check to see if it approaches the bottom of the car doors. Don't take any unnecessary chances with deep water and either drive around it or find an alternative route. If you must drive through it, proceed slowly and cautiously. Getting any water in the engine can risk damage to the electronic cooling systems.

6. Steer clear of traffic

Sometimes you cannot avoid the other cars around you. If there is considerable traffic on the road around you, maintain the three-second rule. If possible, extend this to five seconds. Stay away from buses and trucks, since their tires will spray up a considerable amount of water in their wake and reduce your visibility.

7. Pull over

If the rain becomes too torrential to see anything, pull over and wait it out. The safest form of driving is not driving at all, and in situations where visibility drops to near zero, there's no need to risk trying to reach your destination.

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