April showers may bring May flowers (which in turn bring pilgrims and so forth), but they’re actually a bit of a myth here in Macon. In fact, on average, April accounts for the third-lowest monthly precipitation total in the area year-round.
Nonetheless, the stormy summer is creeping up on us, and experiencing some early, heavy rainfall is more than possible. Stormy conditions compromise our vision, slow our brakes’ response time, and cause our fellow motorists to become erratic. Needless to say, the chances of an accident increase significantly when driving in a downpour.
Before you take on the elements, you’ll want to make sure your vehicle – and your mind – are as prepared as possible. Courtesy of Volvo Cars of Macon, here’s how to stay safe when caught in a spring thunderstorm.
Replace Your Windshield Wiper Blades
Your first and primary line of defense against severe rainfall is, of course, your windshield wipers. Although our wiper blades don’t spend the winter warding off ice and snow here in Bibb County, replacing your blades at the start of spring is still a wise move. Dull wiper blades can hurt your windshield as much as help it, leaving streaks and smears that can severely compromise your windshield’s visibility. Thankfully, our Parts Store is stocked with fresh blades, as well as anything else you need to kick off the spring.
Avoid Heavy or Abrupt Braking
Every year, 75% of weather-related accidents occur on wet pavement – and 47% happen during rainfall. Adapt a more cautious braking technique when driving in storms, as it takes significantly longer to come to a complete stop. Rather than risking braking abruptly, ease your foot off the accelerator earlier than you normally would. Then, apply light pressure to the brake pad to coast to a natural, gentle halt.
Beware of Hydroplaning
Not only does it take longer to come to a complete stop on wet surfaces – hydroplaning becomes a serious threat. Hydroplaning occurs when your tires lose traction, causing your car to drive on the surface of the water rather than the surface of the road – which, in turn, causes you to momentarily lose control of your vehicle. If you start to hydroplane, follow three simple steps: remain calm, take your foot off the gas pedal, and steer in the direction you want to go. To avoid hydroplaning, stay alert for standing water, steering around large puddles rather than confronting them head-on.
Maintain Your Distance from Other Cars
During a thunderstorm – but really, all of the time – you should not be aggressively tailing slow drivers. Since your car’s brake reaction times are slower in wet conditions, you’re risking a fender-bender situation or worse just by staying in close proximity to other vehicles. Double your normal following distance instead, leaving ample space between yourself and your fellow commuters. This also helps avoid water getting splashed onto your windshield by larger vehicles – another viable visibility threat.
Leave Your Headlights On
In Georgia, it’s state law that you must have your headlights on during averse weather conditions. But regardless of where you’re driving, keeping your lights on during a storm is both common sense and common courtesy. Not only is the added visibility necessary for your driving purposes, but it also alerts other drivers as to your whereabouts in these unclear conditions. There’s literally no downside to leaving your headlights on in the rain, so get in the habit of doing so.
Anticipate the Unexpected
Follow all the meteorologists on social media you’d like – you’ll still never quite know when a thunderstorm could hit. If dark clouds build ominously and you hear the rumble of thunder before you’ve departed, try waiting out the storm until it clears up. Inevitably, though, there will come times when you’re stuck on I-75 towards Perry and a wrathful sky opens up. (In this situation, don’t hesitate to pull over on the side of the road and wait for the worst to pass.)
All you can do is keep your car prepared for a storm to strike at any time. That’s where the skilled maintenance professionals that comprise our Service Center come into play. Schedule your service appointment with Volvo Cars of Macon today and let us handle your brakes, wiper blades, oil change, and more. While you’re here, check out our expansive inventory of new and certified pre-owned Volvo cars. Explore our collection of plug-in hybrid Volvo cars, or pre-order the forthcoming, fully electric EX90 7-seater SUV. At Volvo Cars of Macon, we’ll set you up with a vehicle that brightens your future – and hopefully, the sky.