Driving in the Rain

Rain and wet roads can make driving hazardous. Here are some things to consider when driving in rain or on slippery pavement:

• Reduce speed and allow extra distance. Heavy precipitation makes it harder to see and increases the distance required to stop the vehicle.
• Turn off Cruise Control (if equipped).
• Replace the wiper blades when streaks or missing areas appear on the windshield.
• Make sure your tires have adequate tread depth. If your tires lack tread, sudden braking on wet pavement may cause a skid and possibly an accident. Refer to "Tire Tread" in chapter 7.
• Turn on the headlights so that others can see you more easily.
• Driving through large puddles too quickly may affect brake performance. If you must drive through puddles, drive through them slowly.
• If you believe your brakes may be wet, lightly apply them while driving until normal braking performance returns.

Hydroplaning

If the road is wet enough and you are driving fast enough, your vehicle may have virtually no contact with the road surface and actually ride on water. The best advice is to SLOW DOWN when the road is wet.

The risk of hydroplaning increases as tire tread depth decreases. See "Tire Tread" in chapter 7.