Spring showers may bring May flowers, but they can also cause slippery driving conditions or decreased visibility. Braking cars can require up to four times their normal stopping distance when it’s raining. Hydroplaning can happen when cars skim or slide over the road without traction. This can result in lost control. To honor April’s National Car Care Month drivers should take some time to prepare their vehicles for spring showers.
Firestone Complete Auto Care says that proper tire maintenance is an easy task that can make drivers safer. Checking the tire pressure using a tire gauge is the first step in proper tire maintenance. This should be done at least once a month. If the vehicle has not been driven for more than one mile, or if it has been sitting for less than three hours, this should be done. The sticker on the vehicle’s door jamb, fuel lid, glove box, trunk, or owner’s manual will list the recommended air pressure.
Drivers should regularly have their tires and tread depth inspected by an ASE Certified automotive professional. The wheel alignment should be checked every year and the tires should be rotated once every 5,000 or according to the vehicle owner’s manual. Proper alignment and rotation can help tires roll more smoothly which can improve traction, fuel mileage, and tire longevity.
You don’t have to wait for rainstorms to check your wipers and lights. When the weather is nice, check both lights and wipers at regular intervals. Being seen and able to see are essential, even in bad weather. Functional lights are essential for you to be able to see and also help other drivers see the vehicle. In order to ensure maximum visibility, windscreen wipers need to be replaced as soon as possible.
Good vehicle maintenance will increase visibility and traction in a rainstorm, but it is also important to practice safe driving skills, such as slowing down, using caution and being careful. It will pass, but it will rain again the next day.
Trisha Hessinger, a former racecar driver, is an automotive education specialist nationally for Firestone Complete Auto Care.
