Driving in the Rain

Wet roads and rain can make driving hazardous. Keep the following points in mind when driving in rain or on wet roads:

• Reduce your speed and increase the following distance from vehicles ahead. Heavy rain reduces visibility and increases braking distance.
• Turn off cruise control (if equipped).
• Replace the wiper blades if they leave streaks or no longer wipe the windshield properly.
• Make sure your tire tread is in good condition. If your tire tread is insufficient, hard braking on wet ground may cause skidding and an accident. Refer to "Tire Tread" in chapter 7.
• Turn on the headlights so other drivers can see you more easily.
• Driving too fast through large puddles may affect braking efficiency. If you must drive through puddles, drive through them as slowly as possible.
• If you believe the brakes have become wet, lightly depress the brake pedal while driving until braking returns to normal.

Hydroplaning

If you drive too fast on a wet road, your vehicle may lose contact with the road surface and hydroplane on the water. The best advice to remember when the road is wet is to SLOW DOWN.

The risk of hydroplaning increases as tires wear. Refer to "Tire Tread" in chapter 7.