Whether you’re making your daily commute, picking your kids up from school, embarking on a road trip, or running errands, you need to get from here to there rain or shine. If you’ve ever found yourself stuck in a rainstorm when you’re behind the wheel, you know this situation can be scary. You want to feel calm and prepared for rainstorms when driving to stay as safe as possible. For safety tips for driving in the rain, keep reading.

First, never drive in high water. If your path is flooded or you need to cross a rain-swollen stream, turn around instead. Note that steep hills have valleys on the other side, which can be flooded. Driving through high water can cause your vehicle to lose traction or even get stuck. You don’t want your vehicle to get flooded, so avoid high water at all costs.

Next, stay focused when you are behind the wheel during a rainstorm. Distracted driving can make an unsafe situation even more dangerous. Put away any food or drink and stay off your phone during a rainstorm. Even talking to other passengers or listening to the radio can distract you during your commute in the rain.

Don’t use cruise control during a rainstorm. You also should turn your headlights on whenever your windshield wipers are on. To improve visibility when it rains, try using Rain-X on the exterior of your windows. Rain-X can repel raindrops to make it easier to see in a storm. Don’t forget to turn on your defoggers to remove any condensation from your car windows.

If the rain is reducing visibility, you need to drive slower than normal. You may even need to drive under the speed limit to commute safely in the rain. Be sure to increase your distance from other vehicles in case you need to stop suddenly. The slick road conditions in the rain will increase the amount of time it takes to bring your vehicle to a complete stop.

Following these tips can help you get from here to there as safely as possible during a rainstorm. If you’re looking for a new vehicle to make your daily commute, consider our inventory at Scotti’s Auto Sales. We have an extensive selection of pre-owned vehicles to shop from, so come see what we have to offer for yourself by visiting 2811 Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota. We hope to see you here soon!