2018 has been a strange year so far for the entire state of Indiana, and Evansville is no exception. The weather has been indecisive throughout the entire year, some days choosing to be sunny and 65 degrees, and other days laying a cool blanket of snow on the ground. One aspect of the year so far that has been exceptionally abnormal is the amount of rain we’ve see. Emergency Management officials claimed that this past February saw the wettest February day in Evansville since 1897.
With excessive rain often comes flooding. This can affect people in a variety of ways. It can cause damage to houses and yards, and it can also have major effects on roads and transportation. More than 20 Evansville roads were temporarily shut down due to flooding this past February, including Indian Mounds Road, Caborn Road, Old Dam 49 Road, Cox Road, and Darnell School Road.
Precautions to Take on Wet or Flooded Roads
You should never drive through a completely flooded road. It is impossible to know just how deep a puddle is by looks alone. However, sometimes you may have to drive along wet roads on which standing water has accumulated. Even if the flooding appears to be minor, there are certain precautions you should take to make sure you get through the water safely.
Do Not Use Cruise Control
While cruise control is a valuable tool when driving in dry conditions, it can be extremely dangerous to use when driving in wet or flooded areas. Cruise control limits the driver’s control of the vehicle. In order to prevent the loss of traction at any time, the driver will need to be able to reduce speed when needed, and they cannot do this efficiently if the car is on cruise control.
Make Sure Tires Are New and Properly Inflated
You may not always have time to get new tires or properly inflate your old ones when driving through a rainstorm. Because of this, it is important that you schedule regular checks and rotations for your tires so that if you get caught in a situation where you must drive through standing water, your tires are prepared for the task. This will provide better traction as you drive through these conditions.
Slow Down During Wet Conditions
A person can hydroplane driving through as little as half an inch of water at a speed as low as 35 miles an hour. No matter how new your tires are, you should always slow down to a safe speed when driving through any standing water in order to avoid hydroplaning.
Allow Distance
When driving in these conditions, it is important to keep a safe distance from the car in front of you. Ensure that if the car ahead of you needs to come to a stop or regain control after hydroplaning, they have plenty of time and space to take such measures without being rear-ended.
Help from an Evansville Car Accident Attorney
If you’ve been injured because someone lost control of their vehicle on a rainy day, you could be entitled to compensation for your injury. Call Hensley Legal Group today for a free consultation, or contact us online.