Rain

I decided to go out driving last night.

This isn't too unusual for a Friday night. However, last night there were severe thunderstorms throughout the area throughout the evening and overnight, and this is going to continue throughout the day today. 

Of course, Murphy's Law would dictate that I would get a trip from the airport - at midnight on a Friday - all the way out to O'Fallon, Missouri. This took me through the heart of the storm. The same storm that killed a 12 year old girl on the highway at the very same airport I had just left an hour earlier, when, for reasons unknown, the adult driving the car she was in decided to do a U-turn on the entrance ramp, causing the car to be swept away by a flash flood. 

I'm not going to point out what the driver did wrong, as that won't bring anyone back. Besides, I wasn't there, and I can't know for certain what transpired - though I have some idea, being familiar with the area. 

No, what I will do is share with you how I prepare my vehicle for this sort of thing.

While I found the driving situation stressful, at no point was I panicked. Panicked drivers end up in ditches - or worse.

1. What kind of condition is your car in? Generally speaking, you should keep a close eye on a few vehicle conditions. For starters, how worn are your tires? I drive a lot of miles, so I go through a lot of tires. Sure, I could probably let them go longer, but I transport other people all over the place all year round. I need my tire treads to be deep enough to grip the road effectively in any condition, from a 90 degree July day that turns into a stormy night (like yesterday) to an icy New Year's Eve. 

You should also make sure your windshield wipers aren't cracked, worn, or streaking. If they do any of those, it's time to replace them. 

Side note: the people who drive around with their windshield wipers running on the highest speed for the slightest drizzle drive me absolutely nuts. I have a theory that the speed of the wipers in a light rain is in direct relation to the amount of space you should give that driver in inclement weather. If they are using their delay wipers like a normal person, give them a normal amount of space. If they're burning out the wiper motor from running it on high every time a drop of rain falls from the sky, give that person as much room as possible, because they're probably the same kind of person who, rather than buckling their seat belt, lets the warning chime ding, or lives with a shrill chirp every 30 seconds instead of replacing the battery in the smoke detector. These people are inattentive and will bring society down with them if the rest of us get too close.

Also, I recommend using Rain-X on your windshield every couple of weeks. If you aren't familiar with Rain-X, it is a hydrophobic solution that is applied to your windshield to repel water. In a light-to-moderate rain, it makes wipers almost unnecessary. Last night, I'm fairly certain it saved my life... or at least my deductible, as it allowed me to swerve in time to avoid a large sign or piece of plywood being blown across the highway at my car.

2. Avoid standing water. At speeds as low as 35 mph, it can take as little as a tenth of an inch of water to hydroplane. If you start hydroplaning, take your foot off the gas and steer gently in the direction you are hydroplaning, as this allows your wheels to realign themselves. Lots of newer cars - particularly those with front wheel drive - have traction control systems that will alert and assist you with this. Don't jerk the wheel in the opposite direction, as you could make things much worse, very quickly.

Oh, and if you're on a highway during a heavy rain, stay toward the center lane, as the road is designed for the water to run off the sides. 

3. Turn on your headlights (but not your high beams!) Turning on your headlights increases visibility. In Missouri, it's actually a law that you have to have your headlights on if your wipers are on. However, there is one caveat: don't use your high beams unless you absolutely have to. And in an urban environment, you should almost never have to use your high beams. There are so many people who drive around St. Louis with their high beams on or no headlights at all. It's infuriating. 

And if you have a burned out headlight, go to AutoZone, O'Reilly, or nearly any auto parts store and replace it. The employees there will likely help you do it, too.

4. Know how your ventilation system works and use it to your advantage. This is especially true in the summer months. Your car's air conditioner and defroster will remove moisture from the air inside your car if the windows are up. This will prevent the inside of the windows from fogging. Don't be the smooth-brained idiot driving around, constantly wiping off the inside of their windshield with their hand.

5. Turn off your cruise control. Cruise control is like a toaster - it should only be used in dry conditions. 

6. Finally, if you don't have to go anywhere, stay home. I'll admit, I didn't follow my own advice on this point last night. I didn't have to go out driving, but I did. Thankfully, it all worked out fine, but everything would have been just as fine if I had stayed at home. As one of my high school teachers said, "do as I say, not as I do." 

I hope this was somewhat helpful, and I hope you have a safe, relaxing, and dry weekend.