As the spring nears, so will the increase in rain. No matter what kind of used truck you drive, it’s important to practice defensive driving techniques and to ensure that your vehicle is well-equipped to handle rain driving conditions. When the highways and roads are wet, they can become slippery and dangerous very fast.
Here are a few tips that we’ve put together to make sure that you stay safe while driving your used truck in the rain.
Understand the Road Texture
In most cases, when you’re driving in the rain, you’ll be able to determine what kind of surface you’re driving on. If you are driving your used truck on pavement or asphalt, then you will probably be able to get a significant amount of traction. However, bridge grates, manhole covers, and paint stripes can be very slick when they are wet and require additional caution as you drive over them.
Watch for Spilled Fluids
When fluids spill from vehicles or accumulate on the roads, they can make the roads very slick and dangerous. Look for these fluids where they accumulate most, which is usually at intersections, exit ramps, entry ramps, toll plazas and other roadways where there is a high volume of traffic traveling at low speeds.
Be Aware of Hydroplaning
You can hydroplane in your used truck even if you have new tires with deep treads. Hydroplaning occurs when your tires cannot get traction and begin to spin out. One common way that people hydroplane occurs when they travel at such a high rate of speed that the grooves in their tires cannot displace water fast enough, so the tires actually begin to float on the water, in a sense. This is hydroplaning.
If you find that you are frequently hydroplaning, you may want to invest in all-season tires. These tires typically have deeper grooves that are able to shed off more water quickly in order to provide an enhanced level of traction. You can also drive slower if you begin to hydroplane. Driving slower will decrease the amount of water that you’ll have to shed through the tread in your tires.
Replace Windshield Wipers
Always make sure that your windshield wipers are in excellent condition to push water off of the windshield effectively.
Contact us today at www.kippscott.ca for more information about how you can drive your used truck safely in all weather conditions. We’re always happy to help you drive safely.