When roads are wet from rain, water over the roadway reduces your vehicle’s tire traction. Add to that the fact that rain can reduce or impair a driver’s view of the road, and it’s easy to see that driving in the rain needs to be treated with extra caution.
- Only travel in heavy rain when necessary, and always leave extra time to safely reach your destination
- When getting into the car during rainy conditions, wet shoes may slide from pedals. Dry soles of shoes on vehicle carpeting or rubber matting if possible
- Buckle up
- Turn on headlights to see and be seen
- Defrost windows if necessary, both before and while driving
- Reduce speed. Speed limits are based on normal road and weather conditions, not rainy conditions
- By Nevada law, wipers must be on while driving in rain or snow
- Keep additional distance from other vehicles
- Watch carefully for other vehicles and pedestrians
- Turn off cruise control to reduce hydroplaning
- Brake earlier and with less force, and turn slower, than you would in normal driving conditions
- Do not slam on brakes. Apply steady pressure on ABS-equipped vehicles and pump the brakes if necessary on non-ABS vehicles
- If vehicle begins to skid, steer in direction of slide and slowly remove foot from accelerator
- Temporarily pull off the road to a safe location if you have difficulty seeing the roadway or other traffic
- Be aware of and avoid flooded areas. Never attempt to cross running or flooded water
