The Wininger Law Firm - June 11, 2012
- Car Accident
Driving in the rain can be dangerous, and, in fact, thousands of car accidents each year are caused by wet driving conditions. An Alabama car wreck that killed one person and injured four, happened on a rainy day. Whether the wet conditions contributed to the crash, police don’t know, but as all driver’s know, driving on wet, slick highways cannot only be frightening, but dangerous as well.
Huntsville Police investigated a wreck that happened this past Sunday on Cecil Ashburn Drive that killed one man and left four others injured. Arael Hernandez-Roblero, 22-years-old, was the man who was pronounced dead at the scene and was the passenger of a Pontiac Grand Am. The Grand Am’s driver, who has not been identified by law enforcement at this time, was headed west on Cecil Ashburn Drive and hit another vehicle at approximately 3:00 p.m. According to Huntsville Police, it appeared the driver of the Pontiac, lost control before swerving into on-coming traffic and then colliding with a Honda sedan. The driver of the Pontiac was taken to Huntsville Hospital with life-threatening injuries that required surgery, while three passengers in the Honda were also taken to the hospital and are expected to recover from their injuries.
When a motorist is driving in wet conditions, there are steps to be taken to help prevent not only his safety, but the safety of everyone on the road at that time. Always check the condition and air pressure in the car’s tires as correct air pressure and tire tread depth will help prevent skids and hydroplaning. While talking about skids, know what to do if your vehicle starts into a skid. Do not slam on or pump the brakes if you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS), instead apply pressure in a firm manner and steer the car in the direction of the skid.
It takes about three times longer to stop on a wet road compared to a dry road so keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you.
Hydroplaning is when water on the road creates a barrier between your tires and the road and this can cause you to lose traction and glide, or hydroplane, across the water’s surface. Again, just as in a skid, do not hit the brakes, as it is better to take your foot off the gas, hold the steering wheel in place, and then lightly tap the brake pedal.
By following the above wet road driving tips, a motorist can make the highways a safer place to be on a rainy day.