(WBAP/KLIF) Heavy rain is still on the radar for North Texas. According to Medstar, its’ crews responded to 62 crashes with injury from 6 p.m. on Thursday, December 6th to 6 a.m. on Friday, December 7th. Triple A Texas is reminding drivers of several safety tips to use when driving on wet roads. Daniel Armbruster with AAA says of all the groups of drivers, young teens are the most at ricks for crashes during rain/heavy rain: “Make sure you talk to them [young drivers] about this, it may seem like common sense to you to slow down in the rain but teens of course, live a fast pace lifestyle sometimes, they want to get somewhere in a hurry Have a conversation with those younger drivers, they’re inexperienced and they’re more at risk for a crash than any other age category.” Below is a list of rules and tips from AAA Texas on how you can drive more safely in the rain/heavy rain.
Be Alert and Prepared for Wet Roads
- Turn Around Don’t Drown. Never attempt to drive on a road that’s covered with water. Turn around and find another route.
- Personal Safety First. Should you encounter a situation where your vehicle takes on water, always think of personal safety first. Leaving a vehicle to get to safer, higher ground to prevent injury or loss of life should always be the first priority.
- Never try to start a car that has taken on water. Flood waters are corrosive and contain debris that could enhance any damage the car has already received as a result of taking on water. In some cases vehicles may be salvageable by drying out, but starting a car in flood waters can force water into systems that may not be affected by standing water.
- Don’t use cruise control. Driving on slick roads means your tires will have less traction, and you should be prepared to adjust accordingly. If something goes wrong while you have cruise control on, there may not be enough time to take over the vehicle.
- Increase your following distance. When facing reduced visibility, you and other drivers will likely need more time to react to surrounding traffic. Leave ample space between you and nearby vehicles to reduce the need for sudden reactions.
- Drive more slowly. Hydroplaning is an ever-present danger with as little as one-twelfth of an inch of water on the road. Some tires can lose contact with the road even at 35 mph. Reducing your speed will help you remain in control of the vehicle.
- Know how to respond to a skid. If your vehicle begins to skid, remain calm. Avoid slamming on your brakes; doing so could throw your vehicle off balance and out of your control. Instead, look and steer in the direction you want your vehicle to go.
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