Cars are built to handle inclement weather but only within certain parameters. If you are driving during or shortly after a rainfall, here are some tips to take care of your car:
- Steer clear of puddles. Yes, puddles seem innocent enough and splashing through one can remind us of when we were kids with rubber boots. However, puddles can do two types of damage to your car: First, puddles can hide a pothole. Running over a pothole can damage your car's tires and undercarriage, and knock your wheels out of alignment (which can cause further wear and tear). Second, puddles can splash. That doesn't seem like a big deal except that puddles can splash under our own car into the engine compartment (which can cause damage) or it can splash other cars and affect their ability to see clearly (which can cause accidents!). If you see a puddle, slow down and try to avoid it.
- Be cautious about hydroplaning. Hydroplaning sounds like a superhero's water vehicle but it's really a dangerous situation that can occur during or after a heavy rain. Rain water that doesn't drain off of the road quickly enough can cause cars to lose traction. When your car loses traction, you lose your ability to control your car. Unfortunately, a roadway where the threat of hydroplaning can be difficult to see since all you really see is a wet road. But the threat is real. Slow down a little during and after a rainfall and avoid making sudden changes in direction.
- Don't drive in deep water. During torrential rains, storm drains become overwhelmed with the amount of water and they don't drain fast enough. Roads become rivers. Driving in these conditions is extremely dangerous: You can no longer see potholes or even the curbs, water can get into your engine very easily, and you can even float away in a wave caused by another vehicle! During a bad storm, our instinct is to get home to safety but if we're driving our car we should really just park off of the roadway and let the water diminish.
With the crazy and unpredictable weather we've been experiencing in Canada in the past few years, it's hard to know when the next rainfall will be and exactly how much water will plummet from the skies. Use these tips to drive safely. If you do find yourself caught in a heavy rainstorm, have your car inspected right away.
And if you lose control and collide with another vehicle, bring your car to Boyd Autobody for a repair. We'll dry out your car and repair it and get you back out on the road as quickly as possible.
