Driving in the rain can be a very treacherous ordeal. If you are not careful, you can lose control of your vehicle. This is why it is important that you keep a good amount of space between your vehicle and those that are in front of you. You never know when you may need to hit those brakes!

Here are a few more tips to help you when driving in the rain:

• Allow for more travel time.
• Drive slowly and be aware of your surroundings.
• Stay a good distance away from the car in front of you.
• If you need to brake, do so slowly. When roads are wet, a vehicle usually needs 2-3 times more stopping distance than it would need in normal conditions.
• Use the center lane and avoid distractions like eating, talking on the phone and applying makeup.
• If you start to skid, brake slowly and steer in the direction the car is sliding until you regain traction.
• Keep your car in tip-top condition. Make sure your tires have enough pressure and that your wipers and brakes are functioning properly.

Content on this page adapted from public domain material courtesy of www.oregon.gov