Driving in the rain can be challenging. Driving at night can also be dangerous. When the two are paired together, a lot of different things can go wrong. Our eyes aren’t perfect, and rain or darkness can lead to trouble with peripheral vision, depth perception, and distinguishing between colors. The severity of the rain plays a major factor as well. If you are in a situation where you will be driving at night and it is raining or has recently been raining, here are a few tips that can make the process less stressful.
The reality is that if you can avoid driving in rainy weather, that’s often the best choice you can make. If you aren’t comfortable while driving, there may be a reason for that and sometimes your intuition knows best. If possible, postpone your trip and make it in the morning or after the onslaught of rain is over. Putting yourself in a dangerous position isn’t a good idea and if it isn’t immediately required, the best tip is simply to wait it out.
Before you head out into the rain and the dark, you want to be sure that the car is functioning in the best possible way. You will want to check that the windshield wipers are working, and the taillights and headlights are functioning and providing bright light. This will ensure you have the least trouble while driving in the rain at night. Another smart option is to look over the tread on your vehicle’s tires. If the tread is getting low, this can lower your traction while driving in the rain.
Of course, you should always follow the speed limits that are posted on the road. However, when it’s dark out and the rain is coming down, it may be a good idea to go even slower than that. Yes, this means it will take you longer to get to your destination, but it also means you’re more likely to make it without trouble. Don’t be afraid to slow down and take your time. Your car has a slower reaction time in the rain so going at a slightly more reasonable pace is a good rule of thumb.
We hope this tip is common sense, but sometimes people forget to do the simplest things. Even if the rain is only light, the wipers will keep your windshield clear and allow you better vision while you drive. When driving in the rain, you must be as cautious as possible at all times. You can always turn the wipers on low if needed but do use them until all raining has ceased. The important thing is to have them on at a reasonable speed, so you have the best visual ability possible, even when things are a little rough out there.
You want to be sure that you have room to stop in the rain when needed. Keep a bit of extra distance in between your car and the vehicle in front of you. When stopping in the rain, you may need extra distance to do so without causing an accident. When you add to that the darkness of night, it’s best practice to keep a few car lengths in between you and whoever is in front of you. You’ll be glad you did if you need to make a sudden stop and the roads are slick.
If you see standing water, you need to be careful around it. When you drive through this type of water, it can lead to hydroplaning. This means your car may skid and spin on the surface of the road you are driving on. If you are able to, it’s better to drive around standing water. You can change lanes or steer a bit to the side of the water to be safe, assuming that won’t put you into harm’s way. If you end up hydroplaning, we have some additional tips to help you rectify the situation and avoid an accident on the road.
We covered why you should stay out of standing water, but hydroplaning can still happen even when you’re being careful. You need to understand what to do if this does occur to your vehicle. The best option is to lean into the skid of the vehicle and follow it through until you have traction available. Once that happens, you can steer back onto the road and your destination. If you steer away from the direction the car is moving, it can cause even more issues, so try to avoid it.
When you hit the brakes quickly on watery streets, it can cause the car to spin or leave your control. Instead of slamming onto your vehicle’s brakes, try to slow down in a more gradual way. The best plan is to take your foot off of the gas a bit early, so you don’t have to push down on the brake as much as you normally would. Gently put pressure on the brake unless you are in a situation where that practice would lead to an accident. This is another situation where low and slow is the best option you have.
You’ll want to have your headlights on when it’s raining, regardless of whether it is light or dark out. The lights can help other cars see you easier and more quickly than they would otherwise. This applies no matter how hard the rain is coming down. Even a light mist can cause vision deficiencies in other drivers, and you want to be sure that they see you as early as possible. This will limit the chances of an avoidable accident on the road, which can seriously ruin your night.
When it rains, that also means that the humidity level is going to rise. This can mean that your windows get pretty foggy while you drive. This combined with the dark of night and the rain can make it extremely difficult to see. The good news is that there is an easy fix for this issue. If your vehicle’s ventilation system has a defogger, all you need to do is flip it on. It will reduce the amount of fog that you see on your windshield and windows. However, if the fog does get worse, the best option is to pull over and stop until you have maximum visibility again.
These tips for how to drive safely in rain will help you get to your destination in one piece, even when it’s pitch black outside. Sure, the best option might be to reschedule your drive, but that isn’t always possible. Following these tips will get you where you need to go, even if it takes a bit longer than it normally would. It will be well worth it when you turn up in great shape and take care of whatever sent you out into the weather to begin with.
Take your time, follow the rules, and get there safely. Good luck!