3 Braking Safety Tips For Rainy Weather

Do you live in an area where you see frequent rain? If so, you might worry about staying safe when you're on the road. For example, braking when the road is wet can be tricky and dangerous if you aren't careful. These are a few braking safety tips to remember during rainy weather to help prevent an accident.

1. Have Your Brakes Checked Regularly

When springtime is approaching or when you otherwise anticipate periods of rainy weather, it is extra important to have your brakes checked out. Then, you can have your brake pads replaced if needed and can have the mechanic take a look at the other components of your braking system. It is especially important to have your brakes checked if you notice squealing or other noises or if you notice that your braking power isn't as good as it should be. Keeping top-quality brakes on your car at all times is the important first step to keeping yourself and other drivers safe.

2. Avoid Using Cruise Control

Cruise control is a very handy feature, but it's best not to use it in rainy conditions. When it's raining and the road is wet, it is often best to slow down by simply removing your foot from the gas pedal rather than pressing the brakes, which can cause sliding if you aren't careful. You can't do that when you are using your cruise control, so consider leaving the cruise control for driving days when there are sunnier, safer conditions.

3. Brake Slowly

When at all possible, it is best to brake slowly rather than slamming on the brakes. This is always true when you consider things like wear and tear on your vehicle and fuel economy, but it's especially important when it's raining. If you brake too hard, you might find that your car will slide, but applying the brake more slowly is a lot safer and can help prevent sliding and other accidents. It's also a good idea to slow down a little bit when it's raining so that you don't have to press the brakes as hard and so that you have more time to stop safely.

Braking safely is always important, but it is especially critical to pay attention to the way that you drive and brake when it is raining or when the road is still wet after a rainstorm. If you follow these three steps, you can help keep yourself safe when you hit the road during inclement weather conditions.

For brake repairs, contact a company such as Care Muffler & Brake Shop.