The spring/summer rainy season has started in some parts of the country and the summer thunderstorm season is near. With the rains come hazardous driving situations in the form of skidding and hydroplaning. Skidding and hydroplaning are two separate hazards but each has the same result and drivers who react instinctively could be headed for trouble while drivers, who have a plan in mind, can act correctly to avoid disaster.

Skidding – Skidding occurs due to slick conditions on the road whether it be rain, snow, sleet, or ice. While people tend to be more cautious when driving on snow and ice, they don’t seem to show the same caution when driving in the rain and that can have disastrous results. In the periods between rainfalls, oil and grease build up on the roads and the warm sun keeps the oil and grease in a liquid state. The most dangerous time for slick roads in rain is shortly after the rain begins and there is a thin layer of water on the roads. Once it starts to rain, the oil and grease float on top of the water creating a very slick surface. The roads are at their slipperiest within the first half hour after it starts to rain. Eventually, the oil and grease will be washed down the drains and the roads will lose that slick coating of oil but that is not the time to relax because, as the rains increase, the conditions for hydroplaning increase.

Hydroplaning – Hydroplaning occurs when there is standing water on the road and the depth is such that the car’s tires can’t squeeze the water out between the tire’s treads. If this happens, the tires will ride up on top of the water like a pair of water skis and lose all contact with the road. This can occur at speeds as low as 35 mph and becomes most dangerous at 55 mph or more.

Skid prevention – There are several things to keep in mind to prevent skidding or hydroplaning:

Tires – Few people realize that tires are the most important control device on your car. The steering wheel and brakes aren’t much good when the tires aren’t in contact with the road. Tires need to be kept in good condition and checked often for tread wear. There should be a minimum of 2/32 of an inch of tread depth on your tires. A simple way to check the depth is by sticking a penny between the treads. If the top of Abe’s head is visible, your treads are too thin and your tires should be replaced.

Brakes – Drivers need to be aware of the type of brakes they have on their car. There is a huge difference between standard brakes and anti-lock brakes when it comes to dealing with a skid.

• Standard brakes are not designed to stop your car in skidding conditions. When you lock up standard brakes, you are no longer able to steer the car. If you slam on standard brakes you are just going to make things worse and you could cause the car to careen out of control. If your car is equipped with standard brakes, DO NOT APPLY THE BRAKES until you have regained control of steering and your car has started to slow down on its own.
  
  
• Anti-lock brakes (ABS) are designed to prevent losing control of the car in a skid situation. They do this through use of a computer that detects when a tire is turning faster (trying to grip the surface) and applying pressure independently to each individual brake up to 20 times a second. This allows you to slow the vehicle while still being able to steer to avoid a collision. With the brakes pulsing that rapidly, the driver will feel a fluttering in the brake pedal. Unfortunately, many drivers, who are unfamiliar with ABS, feel this and think something is wrong and take their foot off the brakes. That is a big mistake! When applying anti-lock brakes in a skidding situation, you should expect to feel the brakes fluttering under your foot and understand that the system is operating correctly.
  

Cruise Control – Cruise control is a great system to prevent speeding (and getting a ticket) and to increase your gas mileage. However, you should NEVER USE CRUISE CONTROL IN THE RAIN! If your tires start to spin, the cruise control will detect this and will try to correct it by increasing the speed. That is the last thing you want to have happen in a skidding situation.

Recovering from a skid – Whether you are skidding on slick streets in light rain or hydroplaning through deep standing water, the method of recovery will be the same. If you feel your car start to skid:

Take your foot off the gas! Again, you shouldn’t be using cruise control.

If your car is equipped with standard brakes, do not apply the brakes. If you were applying the brakes when you started to skid, take your foot off the brakes.
If your car is equipped with ABS, apply firm pressure to the brakes. You will still maintain control of steering while the brakes are applied.

Steer the car in the direction of the skid. In other words, if the rear of your car is skidding to the left, turn your wheel to the left. Try not to look at the hazards but instead, look at where you want to steer the car and keep steering in that direction until you have regained control of the car.

Once you have regained full control of steering and the car has slowed on its own, you may be able to apply standard brakes effectively to bring your car to a stop.

Here are a few additional tips for Driving in the Rain and Sleet.

Labels: driver education, driver safety, flood roads, flood waters, hazardous roads, hydroplaning

The start of June may mean many things to many people, like prom and graduation for teens, or the start of vacation, but it is also known as the start of hurricane season. Hurricanes, as we all know, cause strong winds and heavy rains, which may lead to flooding. In case of floods and hurricanes, preparedness and patience go hand-in-hand for survival.

Here are a set of guidelines when facing a hurricane/flood:

Stay tuned – Natural disasters like these are usually the time to fire up the radio. If it hasn't rained yet, or there are no warnings in your area, stay updated by listening to the radio.

Specifically, a radio that is battery operated and doesn't need to be plugged in. During heavy rain and strong winds, it is a good idea to turn off the power in your home, so a battery/crank-operated radio will be your lifeline to the situation.

Stock up – If you're one of those families who stock up groceries every week, find out what other supplies are needed. These might include: clean water, medicine, candles and batteries. Make sure the food supply will last for the family for a couple of days, supposing you'd be staying at home.

Check your house – Make sure that there are no damages to the house that might compromise its structural integrity during heavy winds. A cracked window may make for a potential accident waiting to happen. Keep away from windows during a hurricane. Turn off the power if there's a potential for flooding in the home. If you'll be staying in the house, it's a good idea to keep away from electrical equipment, as they pose threats for lightning.

If you need to drive – If there is an absolute need to drive, consider first the importance of driving. If it's to survey the surroundings, then don't. Next, consider the weight of the car. The lightest of cars are usually the first ones to lose control on the road. Make sure the gas tank is full, the engine is well-maintained and that the tires still have enough traction to keep on the road. As little as an inch of water is capable of making a vehicle lose control, so if you have to drive, slow down. If you have to drive for supplies, there's no need to bring the whole family along. If the family needs to evacuate, know the exact roads you'll be traveling in, bring cash that will last for several days and bring cell phones. Keep the phones in a higher part of the car, so as to avoid flood damage.

After the storm – There are typically more casualties after a hurricane than during one. Stay indoors until the news updates say that it is all clear. Do not attempt to use electrical equipment. Do not wander around. Keep away from fallen wires and puddles near them. Survey the damage in the house (if any) and find out what needs to be fixed/done to make sure that you and your family is a little safer.

To help you prepare for this season read more about how to deal with flooded roads.

Labels: driver safety, driving safety, flood waters, flooded roads, hurricane preparedness, hurricane safety

The torrential rains that struck northern Alabama and Georgia this week have created swollen rivers and streams throughout the area. Some of the deaths that resulted from the floods resulted because the victims didn't appreciate the depth and force of the rushing water. The flooding is causing some very hazardous driving conditions. More than half of flash flood deaths are auto related. Before you go out in these conditions it's a good time to review the hazards of flooded roads and steps you should take to avoid them or, in the worst scenario, to escape from a flooding situation.

Here are some important facts about to remember about flooding:

• Every flood is dangerous to drivers. Even if the water running across the road appears shallow, what you can't see under the rushing water is the greatest hazard of all. The road could be washed out and the water may be much deeper than you realize. Even if it appears intact, the roadway could collapse under the weight of your vehicle.
  
• Less than an inch of water can cause a driver to lose control.
  
• As little as six inches of rushing water has enough force to push your car off the road.
  
• Your car can float in as little as two feet of water and you could be washed away into a flooded stream or river.
  
• In hilly or mountainous areas, flash floods can occur long after the rain has stopped and far away from the site of a rain storm.
  
• The force of rushing water and debris can be strong enough to cause bridges to collapse.
  
• Summer thunderstorms can dump one to two inches of rain in a very short time.
  
• Flood waters can rise at a rapid rate.
  

What should you do to avoid flooded roadways?

• If you live in mountainous, hilly, or flood prone areas, pay attention to weather reports. If there are warnings of flooding, take an alternate route if it is available.
  
• If the roadway is flooded, even a little, don't attempt to drive through the water. Turn around and take an alternate route.
  
• Temporary barriers blocking flooded roadways are placed by emergency personnel for a reason; never drive around them into a flooded area.
  
• If you find yourself stalled in rising flood waters, do not attempt to stay with the car. A floating car can be swept into deeper water and can easily roll over. Escape if possible and get to higher ground immediately. Many flood related fatalities occur when people try to stay with the vehicle.
  
• If the rushing water is too deep and the current is too strong, you will have to make a judgment call about staying with the vehicle. Turn around before you get into that position.
  
• Be especially cautious when driving at night when it is much more difficult to recognize flooding conditions.
  
• Remember that emergency personnel will be overwhelmed and may not be able to get to you for some time.
  

Labels: driver safety, flood waters, flooded roads, road hazards, safety tips, weather conditions