April showers may eventually bring May flowers, but until that time arrives, they mostly bring headaches to drivers everywhere. Your vision is compromised, your brakes are slower to respond, and your fellow drivers are more unpredictable. Suffice to say, the chances of an accident increase significantly in stormy conditions.
That’s why we have your back with these tips for combating the elements this spring. Courtesy of All American Ford, here's how you can keep yourself safe while driving through heavy rain.
Make Sure Your Windshield Wipers Are Prepared to Go
Your windshield wipers are, of course, your main line of defense against severe rainfall. And if you haven’t swapped in a fresh pair this year, they’re probably worn out from combatting ice and snow over the course of the long winter. Dull wiper blades can hurt your windshield as much as help it, leaving streaks and smears that can severely compromise your windshield’s visibility. Fortunately, our Online Parts Store will help you locate the perfect blades for your vehicle with the click of a button.
Avoid Heavy or Abrupt Braking
Every year, 75% of weather-related accidents occur on wet pavement – and 47% happen during rainfall. Adapt more cautious braking habits when driving in heavy rain, as it takes significantly longer to come to a complete stop. Instead of braking abruptly, take your foot off the accelerator earlier than you normally would, allowing your car to glide to a natural stop. Then, apply light pressure to the brake pad to coast to a gentle halt.
Beware of Hydroplaning
Just as it takes longer to come to a complete stop on wet surfaces, hydroplaning is more likely to occur. Hydroplaning occurs when your tires lose traction, causing your car to drive on the surface of the water rather than the surface of the road – which, in turn, causes you to momentarily lose control. If you start to hydroplane, do these three things in order: remain calm, take your foot off the gas pedal, and steer in the direction you want to go. To avoid hydroplaning, be on the lookout for standing water, steering around it rather than confronting it head-on.
Keep Your Distance from Other Cars
During a thunderstorm (but really, any time), you should not be aggressively tailing slow drivers. Since we’ve established your car’s reaction and braking times are longer in wet conditions, you’re risking a fender-bender situation just by being close to other vehicles. Double your normal following distance instead, leaving a wide proximity between yourself and your fellow commuters. This also helps avoid water being splashed onto your windshield by larger vehicles – another viable visibility threat.
Leave Your Lights On
In Alabama, it’s state law that you must have your headlights on while your windshield wipers are in use. But regardless of where you live, having your lights on during a storm is both common sense and common courtesy. Not only is the added visibility necessary for your driving purposes, but it also alerts other drivers as to your location in these unclear conditions. There's literally no downside to leaving your headlights on in the rain, so get in the habit of doing so.
Anticipate the Unexpected
You never know when an April storm is going to hit. If the sky looks ominous and you haven’t hit the road yet, try to delay your departure until the weather improves. Inevitably, though, there will be times when you’re in the middle of a drive, the sky takes a turn for the worse, and the next exit isn’t for miles. (In this situation, don’t hesitate to pull over on the side of the road and wait for the worst to pass.)
The best you can do is keep your car prepared to tackle rainfall 24/7. That's where the expert team at our Service Center comes in. Schedule your service appointment with All American Ford today and let us tend to your tires, brakes, wiper blades, and more. And while you’re here, check out our expansive inventory of new and used Ford vehicles. From the versatile Ford Bronco Sport to the 2025 Ford Explorer, we're sure to have the perfect companion for all the sunny drives that await.