Consider These Simple Tips to Have a Safe Ride in Your BMW in the Rain

Rain and the resulting slick roads are probably one of the worst conditions most BMW drivers may encounter regularly. The risks and hazards of road accidents are increased whenever it starts to rain or after a recent downpour.

When it starts to rain, or even if the roads are still wet from a recent deluge, the risk of losing control of your vehicle increases. When inclimate weather happens, many drivers typically slow down as a safety precaution to lessen the risk.

Safety in the Rain

While slowing down is an important part of safe driving in the rain, there are a few other strategies that drivers can take to protect themselves in the rain.

Avoid Hydroplaning

Hydroplaning occurs when the tires of your car lose traction with the road due too much water on the road surface. As a result of this, your BMW may start to skid.

In the event that hydroplaning happens, slowly release the accelerator pedal and carefully steer until you are able to regain control of your BMW. If you jerk the steering wheel violently in one way or the other, you risk flipping your car. Although several factors influence whether or not a car will hydroplane, it is not impossible for vehicles to hydroplane at even low speeds, so drive with your entire focus on the road when it’s raining.

Use your Wipers

You should check your windshield wipers on a regular basis and replace them as needed, as a wiper with broken blades will not clean your BMW’s windscreen effectively. Don’t be hesitant to frequently make use of windshield washers that help you see better in the rain. The fluid is inexpensive (at only about 99 cents per gallon) and the safety benefits far outweigh the cost.

Avoid driving closely behind buses or trucks. These vehicles can obstruct your driving vision, posing a potentially dangerous driving condition. Also, ensure to keep your distance and wipers on whenever you have traffic in front of you.

Slow down a little more than usual

Typically, whenever there is a heavy rain pour, most cities in the world restrict the speed limit on important routes. This keeps drivers safe and prevents any unnecessary incidents or accidents. Because your car must adapt to the reduced traction in wet road conditions, it takes longer for it to respond to turning and most importantly, braking.

With this in mind, it is recommended that you significantly reduce your speed whenever you’re driving on wet roads. For extra caution and to give your car enough time to respond to an action, it is recommended that you drive slower than the recommended speed limit.

Make sure your headlights are turned on

If you’ve ever been driving in severe rain, you know how difficult it is to see anything beyond a few yards in front of you. Heavy rain is frequently accompanied by a fog or a mist, and this makes visibility much more difficult for drivers.

It is critical that you turn on your headlights in such situations to ensure that you see clearly and keep yourself and other people on the road safe. The most recent vehicles feature bright fog and LED headlights that illuminate a wider area at the front of the vehicle. Whenever you’re driving in the rain, keeping your headlights on does not only improve your own visibility but also alerts other vehicles and pedestrians so they know you’re on the road too.

Choose to wait it out

Rain may be daunting for drivers of all types, whether novice or professional. If you’ve ever seen or experienced a car slide off a wet road, you know it’s one of the scariest things to witness on the roadways. If possible, choose to wait out the rain over the option of driving on unsafe roads.

Be Prepared for the Rain Anytime!

There are a few things you can do ahead of time to have your BMW ready to ensure you drive safely even if you are caught in the rain. Checking for tire wear and replacing your tires helps ensure that you have enough traction when you drive around Colleyville, Keller, Southlake, Westlake, Grapevine, TX. Book a scheduled maintenance and other services for your BMW at Import Car Center today.