Ernst & Haas Management Co Blog

[caption id="attachment_1469" align="aligncenter" width="280" caption="Driving in the rain - if not done cautiously - can turn fatal."][/caption] There's nothing like the year's first rain - the clean, crisp air; the go-to excuse for homemade soup; the horrible driving conditions...wait, what?! For whatever reason, the rainy season brings out the worst in drivers. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly one million vehicle accidents a year occur in wet weather. Here are some helpful safety tips you can put to practice while driving in the rain: -When driving on the freeway, drive in the center lanes as water tends to pool in the outside lanes. -Turn on your headlights. It will help you see better on foggy or rainy days and it will help other drivers see you. -Slow down. It takes longer to stop in wet weather. Plus, the faster you drive, the greater the chances of hydroplaning. If you feel your vehicle starting to hydroplane (riding on the surface of the water), take y our foot off the accelerator and don't hit your brakes. If you have a manual transmission, push in the clutch and let the vehicle slow down until control is regained. -Drive smoothly. When braking, accelerating or turning, avoid jerky, abrupt movements. -Drive slowly through any puddle of uncertain depth. -Never drive through moving water if you can't see the ground through it - you could be swept right off the road. -Install new windshield wiper blades at least once a year to ensure good vision. -Check the tread and inflation of your tires. Property maintained tires provide the added traction you will need on wet roads. -Consider carrying a portable car started with you. That way, if your battery goes dead you can start your car from inside the vehicle rather than getting out of the car to do a conventional jump start with cables. -When driving over 35 mph, decrease your speed by 5 mph. For example, if the posted speed limit is 45 mph, you should be going no faster than 40 mph. Be safe out there and don't forget to buckle up! A safe driver makes for a safe road!