Make Vroom for My Ride: Hudson Valley Ride Blog

In June 2008, a report was released stating that nearly a quarter of all vehicle accidents occured during rainy weather. According to Rain-X, accidents in rainy weather may be in part due to the fact that nearly 78% of motorists only change their wipers when the blades begin to impair visibility and become a safety hazard.

Clear visibility through the use of effective wiper blades while driving can improve reaction time up to a full second in bad weaher. When traveling 60 mph, a full second can equal 100 feet and may be the difference in avoiding a potential accident.

To raise awareness around the issues of clear vision and safe driving, Rain-X is teaming up with Jody DeVere, president and CEO of the women’s auto advice Web site Askpatty.com,  to spread this safety message and mark Groundhog Day as an annual reminder for motorists to change their wiper blades and prepare their vehicle for unsafe weather conditions when driving. DeVere suggests several tips to stay safe amid the rain, snow, slush and ice:

- Conduct a regular walk around your vehicle, checking the lights, antifreeze, windsheild washer fluid and wiper blades regularly.

- Be sure that your tires are properly inflated and have suffcient tread.

- Keep your gas tank at least half full in cold weather: the extra gas helps reduce condensation that can plug your fuel line with ice and stall your engine.

- Create an emergency pack of items such as a blanket, first aid kit, snacks, bottled water, ice scraper, flashlight and a bag of kitty litter and keep it in your vehicle.

“Drivers should adjust their driving habits in inclement weather,” DeVere said. “Drivers should slow down when the roadways are wet, leave extra distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you and be sure to use signals when changing lanes.”

For more information on automotive safety and wiper blades, visit www.askpatty.com or www.rainx.com.