Spring Driving Tips to Help You Stay Safe on the Road
As winter turns to spring and the weather warms up, drivers may find themselves hitting the roads more often. Even on a beautiful spring day, accidents can happen. The car accident lawyers of Reed & Terry, L.L.P. are standing by to help if you’ve been involved in a collision.
Being mindful of road hazards that are more common during the spring and understanding how to avoid them can help lower your risk of car accidents, which is why our attorneys would like to bring attention to these spring driving tips to help you stay safe on the roads in Sugar Land, Katy, Richmond, TX, and surrounding areas.
Slow Down During Spring Showers
Spring rains can make for hazardous driving conditions. Driving too fast when the roads are wet and slick from rain can quickly lead to drivers losing control of their vehicles. Even driving the speed limit may be too fast for rainy road conditions.
Slick roads can make it harder to stop and avoid a collision, which is why it’s important to drive slowly on rainy days.
Avoid Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning can cause serious accidents on rainy days. It occurs when a layer of water builds up between a vehicle’s tires and the road. This thin sheet of water causes the tires to lose contact with the road itself, reducing traction. Driving too fast through large puddles of water or flooded areas increases the risk of hydroplaning.
Avoiding puddles of water and flooded roads is best, but if you are unable to avoid water on the road and begin to hydroplane, remember:
- Remain calm
- Slow down by lifting your foot off the gas pedal
- Lightly pump your brakes if you need to brake rather than slam your foot down, which can cause spinouts
- Avoid making quick steering maneuvers as this can increase the risk of spinning out
Keep Your Tires Well Maintained
Worn out and deflated tires reduce traction. This increases the risk of vehicles losing control during rainy spring days when the roads are wet and slick.
Tires need to be replaced around the six year mark even if they still have a good amount of tread because the rubber used to make tires becomes brittle over time. Brittle tires are more likely to fail, which could cause an accident.
Keep your tires well maintained by periodically:
- Checking the tread
- Making sure your tires are properly inflated
- Replacing tires if they’re six years old or older
Watch for Bicyclist and Pedestrians
Although there are many rainy days during the spring, most days are beautiful and perfect for a bike ride or taking a walk. It’s important to be mindful that there may be more bicyclists and pedestrians on the road when driving during the springtime.
Give bicyclists space when passing them, and watch for pedestrians crossing the street, especially at intersections.
Contact the Car Accident Attorneys of Reed & Terry, L.L.P.
If you have been involved in a car accident, the attorneys of Reed & Terry, L.L.P. are available to review the details of your case and help you get the maximum compensation for your losses. We encourage you to schedule a consultation online or call our law office at (281) 201-0988.