NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Although it rains fairly frequently in this part of the country, you can never be too prepared for the roads
A First Alert Weather Day is in effect tonight through tomorrow as heavy rain and strong winds will rock the Midstate impacting the evening commute today and the morning commute on Tuesday.
One of the most important things to remember when driving on wet roads - that a lot of people tend to forget - is to not speed. You will only increase your stopping distance by speeding on wet roads.
Take the picture above for example. If cars were traveling at a speed of 40 mph, and then came to an immediate stop, it would take a car roughly 160 feet to completely stop. On a dry road, it would only take 80 feet which is half the distance.
As soon as it starts raining, slow down, turn on your windshield wipers, and turn on your lights.
Hydroplaning is another serious risk when driving on wet roads. When excess water sits on top of the road, your tires can lose traction causing your vehicle to slide uncontrollably.
If you start to hydroplane, take your foot off the gas then slowly begin steering in the direction you’re hydroplaning in, until you have control.
Although it seems counterintuitive, your vehicle and tires need to be realigned in the same direction before you can regain control of your vehicle. Once you have control again, then you can steer in the direction you need to go in.
Do not ever jerk the wheel to try and correct yourself when hydroplaning. This could cause you to overcorrect your car and possibly flip it.
With strong winds being another concern this week, high profile vehicles, like buses, trucks, and SUVs, should use extra caution on the roads.
With our winds out of the south, the strongest gusts could create a serious crosswind for those traveling on east-west oriented roads.
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