Driving in the rain poses a series of risks you must be weary off; thus, this post by AMSOIL: Synthetic Oil Outlet in Staten Island, NY, shares a few tips to improve your driving safety in the rain.

During a rainy day, the best thing to do is stay home and wait for the sun to come out; however, this option is not always feasible; especially if you have to drive to work, pick up your children from school, or run an important errand. With that in mind, this post by Synthetic Oil Outlet has prepared some tips to stay safe when driving in the rain.

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How to Stay Safe While Driving in the Rain

Keep Your Vehicle in Its Best Shape

Start by inspecting your vehicle. All components and systems must be in top shape to face the heaviest rains of the season, hence the importance of keeping up with your vehicle's service schedule. Below, we share with you some of the main elements you should inspect to drive safely in the rain:

• Tires: Your tires should give you the best traction possible during the rainy season; after all, rain mixes with grease and oil spilled on the road, which creates a slippery layer that makes it difficult for your tires to grip; that's why they must be properly aligned, balanced, and rotated. Don't forget to check the tread of your tires periodically and check their air pressure at least once a month.
• Brakes: The braking effect takes approximately three times as long on wet surfaces than on dry surfaces; hence, keeping your braking system prepared for rain is critical. To that end, have your brake fluid levels checked and the condition of discs and pads inspected according to the manufacturer's suggested intervals.
• Windshield wipers: Your windshields should operate smoothly throughout the rainy season; hence, you must regularly inspect your windshield wiper fluid level and wiper blade rubber. Replace your windshield wipers once a year or according to the intervals described in your operator's manual.
• Headlights: Your headlights are an essential element to ensure your visibility, not to mention that they help other drivers see you clearly in the rain, so be sure to turn all your headlights on and off before driving in the rain; that way, you can be sure they are working correctly.

Visibility is Critical

Rain hinders your visibility behind the wheel in several ways, from blocking the passage of light with the movement of blizzards to distorting the shape of road signs and other cars on the road. While it is true that having poor visibility on the road is very dangerous, it is also true that there are some ways to improve it. Below, we share with you the steps to improve driving visibility in the rain:

1. First, turn on your windshields.
2. Turn on your headlights.
3. If you notice your windshields fogging up, turn on the defroster.
4. Turn on the air conditioning to reduce condensation on the windshields as quickly as possible.
5. You can roll down one of your windows slightly to allow air to circulate inside the vehicle; doing so will help prevent further fogging of the windshields.

Keeping your vehicle in perfect condition is essential for safe driving in the rain. Call Synthetic Oil Outlet at (718) 354-0548 or visit AMSOIL's online store to place an order on the most effective synthetic oil in Staten Island.

Slow Down

Another of the top tips for maintaining control of your vehicle and avoiding skids when driving in the rain is to reduce your speed. Remember that water interferes between your tires and the surface; therefore, it is necessary to compensate for the lack of traction with a slower speed to allow the tread of your tires to grip the ground. To apply this advice, remember to reduce your usual speed by one-third. For example, if you usually drive on the Staten Island Expy at 50 miles per hour (according to the speed limit), you would have to reduce your speed to 34 miles per hour when driving on the Staten Island Expy in the rain.

Increase Your Following Distance

Whether it is a drizzle or a downpour, it is always better to have plenty of time to stop or make any driving maneuvers in the rain; having mentioned that, make sure to maintain a following distance of at least 8 seconds. In addition to improving your safety, increasing your following distance will help you avoid being sprayed with rainwater by vehicles in front of you.

Watch Out for Hydroplaning

Driving on wet roads carries the risk of hydroplaning; that is, a skid produced when water on the road separates your tires from the surface, resulting in a loss of control and braking. Hydroplaning usually lasts a few seconds and feels like the car is skidding, which can be nerve-wracking for the driver. To avoid it, maintain optimum tread depth in your tires by consulting the manufacturer's recommendations in your owner's manual. If you hydroplane due to unexpected factors, stay calm and slowly ease off the accelerator until your tires regain traction. Avoid overcorrecting or braking, as this could contribute to skidding. Finally, remember to maintain the direction you want your vehicle to go until you regain control of your car.

The prolonged use of AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil can help you run your vehicle efficiently and safely for longer. Call Synthetic Oil Outlet at (718) 354-0548, or visit AMSOIL's online shop to place an order for the top synthetic oil in Staten Island.