The San Diego County Department of Public Works (DPW) Highway Division and Office of Emergency Services remind residents to drive safely and be prepared for flooding.
The National Weather Service forecasts milder rain conditions in San Diego than in the central and northern parts of the state, but safety precautions always apply on wet roads.
The following 10 tips are important when driving in rainy conditions:
Slow down to avoid having an accident. Remember, it takes longer to stop when the roads are wet. Allow yourself at least 15 more minutes to get to your destination and adjust to the slower traffic. Turn on your headlights to see better and make it easier for other drivers to see you. Is the law. Try to drive towards the middle lanes as water tends to pool in the outside lanes. Defog your windows for better visibility. Rain can cause windows to fog up. Similarly, check your windshield wipers preferably before it rains again and replace them as necessary. Avoid driving through deep water because it can affect your brakes. If you can’t avoid it, test the brakes afterwards to make sure they’ve dried out and are working properly. Give cars in front of you extra distance. Spray from your vehicles, particularly larger trucks and buses, can impede your vision. And giving the guy in front of you more room also gives you more time to brake or adjust if necessary. Stay calm, don’t oversteer or stomp on the brakes if you start to hydroplan or skid when your tires lose traction on the wet road. The Department of Motor Vehicles recommends keeping the steering wheel straight and taking your foot off the accelerator so the vehicle can slowly slow down. Turn around, don’t drown. In heavy rain, never drive on a flooded road if you cannot see the pavement. Even a few inches of water running at just the right speed can sweep a car, or even a truck, and its occupants off the road and downstream. The same advice applies to trying to walk or swim across a flooded road. Stay focused. Remember, it is illegal and dangerous to try to text or use a handheld cell phone while driving. Slow down towards the cone area if you see highway or highway workers ahead or to the side of you. Beware of DPW crews and equipment.
Bonus tip: If you have to travel to a place where you will have to drive in the snow, keep up with the weather reports to see if tire chains are required. Please note that conditions on the ground can change rapidly. Also keep some extra safety equipment in your car.
Chain checks, road condition updates, and other safety advisories are posted on DPW websites. Facebook Y Twitter sites
Outside of highways, although this storm system is not expected to be excessive, residents may want to prepare and learn more about flood hazards, as flooding is the most common natural disaster. The San Diego County Office of Emergency Services has ready flood information to reduce your risk.
DPW Highway Division crews keep highways and motorists safe by removing road hazards, closing flooded roads, and clearing roads when bad weather strikes.
The Office of Emergency Services helps residents prepare for disasters and emergencies by encouraging people to create a personal disaster plan, sign up for emergency updates, and download the free SDEmergency app.
Source: news.google.com