Local News

Wet Weather Driving Safety

Tue, 29 Dec 2015 09:38:46 CST
The recent rains and flooding in the area brought road closures and the need for less speed. Wet weather can lead to dangerous driving conditions. Illinois State Police Trooper Heath Bryan says with all the rain, the oil on the roads mixes with the water and can make roads slick.

"After the last few days we've had, that heavy rain, we're not going to have too much of that issue, but there's still some out there so if you're driving too fast for conditions or just driving the speed limit, it might be too fast for what the road is going to allow you. So, you need to be careful with that in mind - just kind of slow down a little bit."

Bryan says there also can be standing water on the roads and with that comes the possibility of hydroplaning.

"Hydroplaning can be dangerous. One thing that you need to keep in (mind) is when you start to hydroplane, do not slam on your brakes - let off the gas and almost coast into it. When you start to change your driving pattern erratically or significantly that can put you into a ditch or put you into a crash. So we like to say, just let off the gas, (go) slow into it. Same with ice, if you start to slide on that, you don't want to take too extreme of a change in your driving pattern - when you start to do that, bad things happen on ice or on water."

Other precautions to take while driving in wet, rainy conditions include increasing following distance as wet roadways and reduced visibility increase the amount of time it takes to safely stop your vehicle, also, turn on your headlights as this will make your vehicle more visible to other motorists.

Thomack 12/29/15