Recent thunderstorms brought heavy rain to parts of the area, leaving many drivers facing challenging conditions on the roads.
Rain can create serious driving hazards, including wet pavement, reduced visibility and hydroplaning.
Heavy rain can make roads more dangerous by making it harder for drivers to stop and increasing the risk of losing control of their vehicles. While rain may not seem as dangerous as snow, it can actually contribute to more crashes.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, wet pavement is a factor in about 70 percent of weather-related crashes, while rain itself is linked to about 46 percent.
Nationwide, weather-related crashes kill more than 6,000 people and injure another 445,000 each year.
David Sallot, the local manager of Brown’s Towing, says drivers should take precautions before heading out in rainy weather.
“Change your wiper blades. Make sure you’ve got good tread on your tires. The better the tread, the less chance you’re going to have of hydroplaning.”
Drivers should also remember a few important safety tips when rain becomes heavy.
Use low-beam headlights rather than high beams and avoid using cruise control on wet roads. If the rain becomes so heavy that visibility is severely reduced, drivers should pull over to a safe location and wait for conditions to improve.
Taking a few simple precautions can help drivers stay in control and reduce the risk of a crash when severe weather moves through the area.