NASHVILLE, TN (WSMV) – Flooding is a major concern with the remnants of Hurricane Helen hitting Middle Tennessee this weekend.
Heavy rain can create dangerous conditions on the road and lead to hydroplaning.
Chris Vowell, general manager of Precision Tune Auto Care, said they constantly see cars with tires that are at risk of crashing in wet weather, but there are simple steps you can take to keep your family safe.
First Alert Forecast: Heavy rain arriving from Helen soon
The first thing Fowle asks customers to check is their tire pressure to ensure they have the perfect amount of road contact. Next, use a dime to make sure there is enough tread for grip. Fowle said you need to check all four tires because one may have different wear than the others.
“Don’t wait until the last minute because you might not get it done,” Fowle said. “It’s always a good idea, especially in rainy conditions, if you see a road you’re not familiar with and you see standing water on that road, go over it. Don’t go through it. You never know how deep it’s going to be, and it doesn’t take much to carry a car.” away.
You need to make sure your windshield wipers are in good enough condition to remove water rather than just move it around, Fowle said. It’s also important to make sure all of your lights are working so other drivers can see you through the spray.
In addition to avoiding puddles on the road, Vowell said drivers need to watch for wet foliage. It can be as slippery as black ice in winter.
“Try to follow the tread pattern of the car in front of you because it has already displaced a lot of that water,” Fowle said. “If you start to feel like you’re hydroplaning, don’t make any major brake adjustments. Don’t hit the brakes just because you’re skidding. Keep going in the direction of the slide and then release the throttle.”
The easiest way to stay safe is to slow down and leave more than double the following distance you normally have from the car in front of you, Vowell said.
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