HOUSTON – You’ve likely experienced it -- the rain starts coming down on Houston roads and everyone suddenly gets a case of amnesia about how to drive properly.
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration reports that the vast majority of weather-related automobile crashes happen while it’s raining or on wet pavement.
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On average, nearly 5,000 people are killed and over 418,000 people are injured in weather-related crashes each year, according to an analysis of NHTSA data, and slick roads are a factor in close to 1.2 million vehicle accidents every year.
In Houston, I often see one of two things -- someone driving way too fast or way too slow, particularly on the highways. There’s no middle ground and it tends to lead to crashes in the rain.
And don’t get me started on the folks that turn on their flashers. DON’T DO THAT! It’s legal to do in Texas, but it sure can cause confusion in the rain when you’re not using your turn signals to switch from lane to lane BECAUSE YOUR FLASHERS ARE ON. There’s no way to tell people that you’re going to pull in front of them in their lane. It’s scary and leaves other drivers guessing about what one wayward vehicle with its flashers on is going to do without ANY safe indicator of what you’re planning to do. And then everyone else starts turning on their flashers too. Like it’s a college party and you have no idea how many drinks anyone has had and you’re trying to maneuver around them to the exit. They could slam into you at any moment. And maybe puke...ah memories. I digress. This kind of thinking could actually get people driving even faster -- afraid of increased insurance premiums -- as they wonder what the person with the flashers on is actually going to do.
I’m probably in the camp that drives too fast for the roads -- and I’m not alone. AARP reports most people drive too fast on wet roads, creating issues with your tires and the connection with the road. In my car, I am actively trying to figure out how to get around y’all who have suddenly decided to slam on the brakes instead of gently apply them and maintain a steady pace. But it’s really not a great idea. Did you know tires can lose contact with a wet road at just 35 miles an hour, making it more difficult to control the car? See this fantastic report from AARP with that information. Slow down a bit, at least.
But seriously, don’t stop entirely! AARP notes, “when accelerating, turning, braking or steering in the rain, drive smoothly to retain maximum control. ... Make gradual speed or steering changes, and start slowing your vehicle by taking your foot off the gas earlier than you normally would before gently squeezing the brake pedal.”
“Your tires have far less traction on wet pavement than they do in dry conditions, so slow down before you get to a wet-looking spot and before you start to turn left or right,” William Van Tassel, who manages national driver training programs for the American Automobile Association, is quoted as saying in the AARP report.
So don’t slam on your brakes the second that droplets start splashing on your windshield, Houston. It’s annoying and it’s not safe. Instead, try to ease off the gas and give yourself a little more room between cars. And if you start to feel hydroplaning -- when your vehicle’s front tires hit water instead of road -- try not to panic.
And get your car sorted BEFORE you hit the roads. I’m not just talking about getting your car properly outfitted, I’m talking about keeping your tires and brakes actively maintained. Don’t have adequate tire pressure? Air them up. Here’s a fantastic explanation on tires and how they work (Hint: Tires are really important in the rain). Here’s more on assessing your tires. But let me do some cribbing for you: make sure they’re in good shape with adequate traction and properly inflated at all times. Hear or feel grinding in your brakes? Take your vehicle in for a check.
And when the rain starts coming down, turn your headlights on (make sure they’re on even if they’re set to automatic) and get your windshield wipers going. Just do it -- even in the daytime. Don’t wait because your mind will likely be occupied as the rain starts coming down harder. AARP’s expert notes that you’re about twice as visible to other road users when your headlights are on. And don’t forget about defrosting your windshield too to keep the fog and ice at bay (in the rare instance in Texas).
Also my favorite -- turn off the cruise control. Yes, I have to mention this one. Cruise control is for ideal conditions on the roadway -- not rain, as Edmunds explains. I know, when you’re on a trip and you already have it on and it’s cruising at just-the-right speed, it’s hard to turn off, but seriously, do it. You don’t want to be cruising at just-the-right speed into an accident. So. Not. Worth. It.
OK, so what have you learned from traveling in the rain in the Houston area? Let us know in the comments below. I’ll be reading, so make sure you’re sharing. I could feature the best comments in an update to this article, so sound off, y’all. It’s time to weigh in on this VERY fraught topic of Houston driving.