Welcome Tracy Young to DrivingUniversity.com

Session 4 - Progress

The worst time to be driving on a paved road is just when it's starting to rain.  This is when the road is most slippery, due to oil and dust mixing with the water.  Your tires will not perform as they do on dry roads, so take these precautions to minimize your risk. Slow down at the first raindrop.  How much you adjust your speed depends on what Mother Nature is throwing your way. For rain, slow down 5 to 10 miles.  If you're driving on packed snow, cut your speed by half.  On ice, you can't consider yourself safe if you're driving over 5 to 10 mph.  Be aware of the possibility of ice on the road: in shady areas; on bridges and overpasses; in low lying areas where fog settles.

(A) Roads are most slippery when rain just begins to fall.

Be especially cautious about taking curves on a slippery road.  Decrease your speed considerably well in advance of the curve; braking can cause your vehicle to spin out of control. Water is not the only thing that makes a road treacherous: be aware of gravel or debris near a curve, particularly in the mountains.

Turn on your headlights and your wipers, even in light drizzle.  You want the car ahead of you to know that you're there.  You don't want that driver braking or turning as if no one were following him.

Be prepared with a supply of wiper fluid.  The only thing worse than a wet windshield is a grimy, oily smeared windshield that you can't get clean.