Driving Responsibly On Wet Roadways

Almost 200,000 Californians are injured each year in a traffic accident; Over 3,000 die. With all of the past rain we recently had here in southern California, many of us will encounter accidents with other vehicles who fail to properly navigate the wet roadways.

The California Vehicle Code and other rules of the road require us to drive at a speed appropriate for the condition of the roadway. For example, if the roadway is congested with debris or heavy traffic, you must slow your vehicle to a speed that will allow you to safely pass through the condition. Just because the posted speed limit may be 65 mph, you can still be in violation of the law if you stay within that speed if it is deemed unreasonable to go that fast due to the condition of the roadway. 

The same holds true for wet roadways. We all know about hydroplaning. Your stopping distance on a wet roadway is far greater than on a dry one.  If you are driving the posted speed limit on a wet roadway and fail to stop behind a vehicle, you are not only going to be held responsible civilly for damages sustained by the other vehicle, you also may get cited by the police for going too fast for the conditions.

It appears that we are in for more winter rainstorms creating more wet and slick conditions. Please take caution while driving and protect yourself, your loved ones, and your neighbors.