Everybody loves joyriding on a non-busy road but with rain and wet road conditions, it is a whole different story as road risks and hazards can be lurking. An initial safety precaution of drivers would be to slow down when this happens. However, in most cases, slowing down is not enough.
To ensure an entirely safe trip while passing through a flooded road, there are certain considerations and techniques that you, as a driver, should be aware of:
1. Make sure your car is in great condition.
Nothing beats the protection and security you can get from having a regularly maintained vehicle. While road misfortunes and accidents can still occur, the likelihood of getting caught off guard can be significantly reduced with car parts and fluids you know are perfectly working and filled.
Your trusted Newark tow company might have been taking care of the recovery job but as a driver, it also pays to be versed in running the basic checklist. This includes running a quick check of your vehicle lights (headlights, turn signals, taillights), windshield wipers and tire treads. This will play a major role in warding off road hazards when it rains.
2. Only enter the roads you are familiar with.
Roads in and around Newark, New Jersey have countlessly withstood different weather conditions, One of the downsides of this is having poorly compressed asphalt which can end up looking dry when it is actually not. Be mindful of this possibility; make sure your routes are well-considered. Otherwise, you might get caught in unfamiliar territory where your vehicle can get caught in a flooded area.
Another reason why you should only tackle the roads you very well know is because this will help you detect where spots are elevated and which spots are already deep. A three-inch deep floodwater might already be enough to make you lose control of your tires’ traction. High water levels will even cause your engine to stall. On that note, also try your best to avoid passing through roads near easily flooded rivers like Hackensack and Passaic rivers.
One of your best lines of defense during wet weather is having a set of good all-weather tires. As per the experts, it will be a great investment so you will not untimely lose your tire’s traction under a heavy downpour.
Now if your vehicle ended up drenched for a long time in an unfamiliar, flooded road causing it to halt, do not hesitate to call a local tow company right away. It is the first thing you should do to save you more potential troubles.
3. Turn your lights on but by default, set them in a low beam mode unless the circumstances require otherwise.
A lot of modern vehicles are equipped with a safety feature called automatic running lights wherein once the system detects that the windshield wipers are working, the vehicle’s headlights and taillights will automatically activate as well. This is definitely great but if your car does not come with that feature, it’s fine. All you have to do is maintain your presence of mind and turn on your headlights and tail lights right away. Just make sure they are not set bright. Otherwise, the people you are sharing the road with might find it difficult to see you. That misses the point.
4. Keep a low driving speed.
As per the experts, the right speed in driving during rainy weather is one that keeps at least five seconds distance between you and the car you are tailing. You might notice the maximum speed signs required on every road; that is actually fine to consider. However, with a wet road, it pays to be extra cautious to keep your control. Also, using cruise control during such a situation is a big no to avoid automatic acceleration.
5. Steer quite freely.
Hydroplaning is very likely when driving through a flooded road. If you end up going too fast, do not hesitate to steer in the direction you want to go. This will help draw your tenses away
Do note that it can be hard to steer out of the skid and one attempt may not be enough. It is okay nonetheless. Just keep on trying.
6. If your trip is not necessary, put it on hold and go back home.
Just because the entire family has already hopped in and you have already driven a few blocks through, it does not mean you should still push through with the trip. With the imminent dangers that could await, it will never be worth it.
Staying home is the safest thing to do when there is heavy rain. But if you have realized this quite too late and you have already found yourself stalled in the middle of the road and in need of a rescue, a reliable road assistance and tow truck service company in Newark like Newark Tow Truck is just a few rings away.
Here at Newark Tow Truck, we take every emergency call with
seriousness and urgency because we are very well aware of the dangers you could be in. A lot of riders in and around Newark, New Jersey have been trusting us as their reliable road assistance company for a reason. Save our number today and allow us to get you covered when that time comes!