Driving on Wet Roads

Rain and wet roads can reduce vehicle traction and affect your ability to stop and accelerate.

Always drive slower in these types of driving conditions and avoid driving through large puddles and deep-standing or flowing water.

Wet brakes can cause crashes. WARNING
Wet brakes can cause crashes.

They might not work as well in a quick stop and could cause pulling to one side. You could lose control of the vehicle.

After driving through a large puddle of water or a car/vehicle wash, lightly apply the brake pedal until the brakes work normally. Flowing or rushing water creates strong forces. Driving through flowing water could cause the vehicle to be carried away. If this happens, you and other vehicle occupants could drown. Do not ignore police warnings and be very cautious about trying to drive through flowing water.

Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water can build up under the vehicle's tires so they actually ride on the water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast enough. When the vehicle is hydroplaning, it has little or no contact with the road.

There is no hard and fast rule about hydroplaning. The best advice is to slow down when the road is wet.

Other Rainy Weather Tips

Besides slowing down, other wet weather driving tips include:

► Allow extra following distance.
► Pass with caution.
► Keep windshield wiping equipment in good shape.
► Keep the windshield washer fluid reservoir filled.
► Have good tires with proper tread depth. See Tires .
► Turn off cruise control.

    See also:

    Storing the Tire Sealant and Compressor Kit
    To access the tire sealant and compressor kit: 1. Open the trunk. See Trunk. 2. Lift the cover. With Pressure Relief Button With Pressure Deflation Button 3. Turn the wing nut countercloc ...

    Washing Your Vehicle
    The best way to preserve the vehicle’s finish is to keep it clean by washing it often. Notice: Certain cleaners contain chemicals that can damage the emblems or nameplates on the vehicle. Chec ...

    Checking Engine Oil
    It is a good idea to check the engine oil level at each fuel fill. In order to get an accurate reading, the vehicle must be on level ground. The engine oil dipstick handle is a yellow loop. See En ...