Here in Southern California, it's not often that we are faced with rainy road conditions. But 2017 has served up record rainfall, even causing most experts to state that we may not be in peril of drought conditions after all.
As a Los Angeles Auto Insurance Agent and an Orange County Auto Insurance Agent, we want to be sure that our clients are informed about road conditions, claims updates and how to stay safe behind the wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more accidents in rainy conditions than in snowy or icy conditions. Here are some tips to staying safe while driving in the rain:
SLOW DOWN: Driving too fast for conditions is especially dangerous on wet pavement because your tires lose traction with the precipitation. The wetness causes there to be a loss in friction between the tires and the road. Since the tires are meant to grip the road, accidents and hydroplaning are more likely to occur if the driver has no slowed down.
BACK OFF: When conditions are dry, it is recommended that drivers keep a 3 second distance. This is measured when you select a fixed object and count the seconds that pass between you and the car ahead of you. However, this "count down" should be increased to 5 seconds when it's raining and 6 seconds when it's raining at night.
BE PREPARED: Stay up to date with changing tires. Check tread and pressure before a big storm. According to NHTSA, tires with 2/32 of an inch of tread are unsafe. However, you may want to replace tires before they get this worn, depending on driving condition.
If you are uninsured, we recommend that you become insured immediately. NHTSA researchers found that 46 percent of weather-related crashes happened during rainfall. We offer affordable auto insurance rates and exceptional auto coverage here in LA, OC and in Huntington Beach. Call us today: 714-846-4231
As a Los Angeles Auto Insurance Agent and an Orange County Auto Insurance Agent, we want to be sure that our clients are informed about road conditions, claims updates and how to stay safe behind the wheel.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are more accidents in rainy conditions than in snowy or icy conditions. Here are some tips to staying safe while driving in the rain:
SLOW DOWN: Driving too fast for conditions is especially dangerous on wet pavement because your tires lose traction with the precipitation. The wetness causes there to be a loss in friction between the tires and the road. Since the tires are meant to grip the road, accidents and hydroplaning are more likely to occur if the driver has no slowed down.
BACK OFF: When conditions are dry, it is recommended that drivers keep a 3 second distance. This is measured when you select a fixed object and count the seconds that pass between you and the car ahead of you. However, this "count down" should be increased to 5 seconds when it's raining and 6 seconds when it's raining at night.
BE PREPARED: Stay up to date with changing tires. Check tread and pressure before a big storm. According to NHTSA, tires with 2/32 of an inch of tread are unsafe. However, you may want to replace tires before they get this worn, depending on driving condition.
If you are uninsured, we recommend that you become insured immediately. NHTSA researchers found that 46 percent of weather-related crashes happened during rainfall. We offer affordable auto insurance rates and exceptional auto coverage here in LA, OC and in Huntington Beach. Call us today: 714-846-4231