However, by adhering to some key driving principles and prioritizing your safety, you can get yourself and your passengers to the final destination without a hitch. Read on to learn more about safe driving tips in the rain for new drivers!

Preparing for Your Trip in Advance

Even if you’re just going out to run some errands, it’s crucial to make sure your vehicle is properly equipped to handle wet, rainy conditions. Begin by inspecting your tires. Without proper traction, you’ll find yourself sliding all over the road. You’re specifically looking at the tread depth of your tires. Worn-out treads significantly compromise traction, increasing the risk of skids and loss of control.

For rainy conditions, you want tread depth of at least 4/32 of an inch for good performance. Tire pressure also plays a vital role in keeping you safe. Maintain the manufacturer’s recommended levels as specified in your vehicle’s manual for wet weather driving.

Once you’ve established that your tires are in good shape, it’s time to make sure you can clearly see the road. Give your windshield wipers a thorough check. Replace blades that leave streaks on your windshield, as this can impair your vision. Ensure the windshield washer fluid reservoir has enough liquid to clear debris and water when needed.

Finally, check the functionality of the vehicle’s headlights, brake lights, and turn signals. Ensuring your vehicle is safe to drive reduces the risk of a crash and subsequent car accident lawsuit in Portland. 

Adjust Your Driving Style to Fit Weather Conditions 

It’s not safe to drive the same way you would in normal weather during a storm or heavy downpour. Adjust your driving habits to account for reduced traction on wet roads. The first and most important thing you can do is slow down! Maintaining a reasonable, safe speed provides you with more time and space to stop your car or avoid an erratic driver. Maintain a larger following distance than usual as well. As a newer driver, this buffer space allows you a greater margin of error so you can react safely to dangerous conditions. 

Smooth, predictable driving is key in wet weather. You should not abruptly brake, hit the gas, or change lanes. These actions can cause your tires to lose traction, resulting in hydroplaning or an uncontrollable skid. When coming to a stop, be gentle and consistent with the brakes. It will take longer than usual to stop, so be mindful of your following distance. Accelerate smoothly so that your wheels don’t spin and lose traction. 

Enhancing Visibility and Awareness on the Road

Heavy rain significantly reduces visibility. You should have your headlights active, even during the daytime, to improve your visibility and help other drivers see your car. Use your defroster to keep the car’s windows clear of condensation. Slightly open a window if necessary to minimize condensation and maintain your ability to see in all directions. 

Stay aware of current and projected weather conditions before and during your journey. Consult weather forecasts and real-time traffic updates to plan your route effectively and identify potential hazards like flash floods. If driving would not be safe, stay off the road. It’s better to arrive late to your destination than run the risk of a serious crash or stranding.

Preparing for Unexpected Situations Caused by Bad Weather

You should always have a fully-stocked emergency kit in your vehicle, even during normal weather. Your kit should have survival essentials, such as water, non-perishable snacks, blankets, a flashlight, and roadside repair set. You should also have a basic first-aid kit and the knowledge to use it in an emergency. Having these items readily available can keep you comfortable and safe if your car breaks down or you find yourself stuck somewhere.

Wet roads frequently result in hydroplaning. If you find yourself losing control of your vehicle, remain calm and avoid erratic movements. Take your foot off the accelerator so that your car begins to gradually coast to a stop. Do not slam on the brakes or attempt to turn the wheel sharply in one direction, as this can make you lose control entirely. Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and try to maintain the vehicle’s course.

Heavy rain and storms frequently create hazardous driving conditions, especially for drivers without a lot of experience behind the wheel. If road conditions become unreasonably dangerous during your drive, it’s important to find a safe place to shelter at. Look for a well-lit, elevated area that is unlikely to flood, such as a designated rest stop or parking lot. If visibility is too poor to safely continue driving at all, pull over to the side of the road, away from the flow of traffic. 

Tackling Rainy Weather as a Teen Driver

Driving in the rain requires motorists to approach the season with special caution and care. By embracing the safe driving principles outlined above, you can navigate slick streets with confidence and protect everyone on the road from harm. We hope this article helps you enjoy an uneventful trip the next time you have to go out in the rain.

Also read:

How to Help My Troubled Teen

Are Therapeutic Schools Effective?

The post How to Help Your Teen When Driving in the Rain first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Driving is a major responsibility for anyone — although learning the proper mechanics is something teens in particular need to understand before getting on the road.  Case in point: Six teens die every day from car crash injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Knowing this information, if you’re working with your teen to get their learner’s permit or driver’s license, it’s time to sit down and have “the talk” — that is, about car responsibilities.

Be a Good Role Model

It’s no secret young people tend to emulate the actions, beliefs and attitudes of their parents, which is why you should always set a good example to teach and reinforce good habits. As such, when you get in your car, make it a habit (if it isn’t already) to put away your smartphone, fasten your seat belt and check your mirrors before starting the vehicle.

Additionally, you’ll always want to use your turn signal, follow the speed limit and keep your emotions in check. Never drink and drive or get behind the wheel if you aren’t feeling like yourself, and be open to discussing the decisions you make behind the wheel. Even if it doesn’t seem like it, your teen is watching you and will want to model your actions and behaviors.

Set Limits

When your teen gets their driver’s license, it’s important to set some important rules of the road beyond the relevant driving laws in your state. By clearly defining your expectations upfront, you’ll reduce conflicts, costly mistakes and other problems. Moreover, you’ll feel more confident and have better peace of mind about your teen’s driving abilities.

Fortunately, some states require teens to have progressive driving licenses that set limits on when they can drive and how many passengers are allowed in their vehicle at any one time. But even if your state doesn’t employ any restrictions for teen drivers, you should have open, honest discussions with your loved one about these important topics.

If you feel it necessary, draw up a safe driving contract with your teen to lay out any limits and responsibilities. For example, you may want to mention that they can only drive if they keep their grades up and stay out of trouble. Additionally, discuss any repercussions for distracted driving, including the use of their smartphone and ability to hang out with friends.

Continue the Discussion

Safe driving goes beyond explaining any important rules of the road. In fact, these conversations should be ongoing to ensure your teen maintains good driving habits and understands their responsibilities behind the wheel. While they should know the rules of the road, they also need to understand how to take care of their vehicle and when to take it in for maintenance.

For instance, if their tires are under inflated or don’t have enough tread, they could pop or slide on the road, creating a chain of events that could result in an accident. With that in mind, teach your teen how to check for symptoms of over-inflated tires and signs tires may need to be replaced, ensuring any new tires have an appropriate ply rating that measures strength and capacity.

As a parent, you also should discuss responsible driving behaviors and what to do in the case of an accident. While your teen may be reluctant to have these conversations, reinforce these conversations again and again. Because if they aren’t mature enough to talk about it, then they aren’t mature enough to get behind the wheel.

When All Else Fails, Reinforce the Rules Again and Again

Despite your best efforts and intentions, the information you share with your loved one may go in one ear and right out the other; after all, teens will be teens. Still, know that your teen is bound to make mistakes and/or circumvent your advice and rules while behind the wheel.

In these instances, it’s important to reinforce the rules you previously taught them or go back to the drawing board to implement new strategies. In the end, driving can be an inherently dangerous activity, which is why you need to do everything in your power to keep your teen — and everyone else on the road — safe.

Read: 5 Benefits of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

Read: Where to Send Your Troubled Teens.

Read: What Causes Teen Mental Health Issues.

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If you’re struggling with your good teen making bad choices and you’ve exhausted your local resources, contact us to learn more about residential treatment. 

The post Car Responsibilities: How to Talk to Your Teen About Driving first appeared on Help Your Teens.

 But there is some info teens should know before they hit the road. Here are some driving tips every parent should cover before he gets behind the wheel.

Driving is a Privilege

Driving is a privilege that can be revoked, by parents or by the law. A safe driver keeps everyone happy. Have a heart to heart with your teen about the dangers of driving. Don’t avoid the uncomfortable subjects. Eleven percent of all alcohol consumption in the U.S. is done by young adults between the ages of 12-20, and there is a zero-tolerance policy for underage drinkers. As a parent, you have the authority to revoke a license. Also, every traffic citation on his record increases the insurance premium. Hold him responsible for any tickets or increases in insurance because of careless or reckless driving.

Be Prepared

There are stretches of more than 100 miles in the U.S. with no gas stations. US 70 in Eastern Utah has a stretch of 105 miles without services. If your teen has a road trip planned, make sure he leaves the house prepared. It’s important to keep an empty gas can in the trunk. GasBuddy is also a helpful app that locates the best gas deals in your area. This can be helpful when the needle nears empty on a long trip. Perils of road tripping abound. Check out this infographic to help your teen be super prepared.

Attribution to TireBuyer.com

Put Down The Phone

Talk to your teen about phone use. While it depends what state you live in, most states have strict laws concerning the hand use of smartphones while behind the wheel. A ticket and raised insurance cost are drawbacks of smartphone use while driving, but the distraction could be fatal.

The post Tips for Teen Drivers for Road Safety first appeared on Help Your Teens.