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Whether you’re taking a road trip, or traveling around town, driving in wet weather provides a unique set of challenges that you'll need to adjust your driving habits to overcome. Here are some common mistakes that you should avoid to stay safe when navigating the roads of Maryland when they become slippery and wet. 1. Driving at Too Fast a Speed The most obvious thing to do when adverse weather strikes is to slow the speed of your vehicle down. Driving at a slow speed gives you time to react to changing situations and reduces your chance of hydroplaning. Keep an eye on your speed when driving on slick roads to make sure you're staying safe. more 2. Forgetting to Activate Your Lights Not only will your headlights improve your ability to see the road ahead of you, but lights also make your vehicle more visible to other drivers. That makes it essential to activate your lights in the visibility-impairing conditions rainy weather creates. That will avoid accidents occurring from your vehicle not being seen in time. 3. Driving with the Emergency Lights On While you may think emergency lights help you stand out even more for other drivers' visibility, these lights can confuse other drivers and make them swerve or stop short unnecessarily. Only activate these lights when you have to pull over to the side of the road to ensure you're using them correctly. 4. Braking or Accelerating Too Quickly Sudden changes in your speed increase the chances that you'll lose control of your vehicle. Instead of reacting abruptly to an obstacle, keep an eye out ahead so that you can anticipate problems well in advance. This will give you time to safely and slowly adjust your speed. 5. Not Reacting to a Skid Correctly Knowing how to react if you lose control of your vehicle is an essential skill in slippery weather. Learn to turn in the direction of your skid instead of against it. This can seem counterintuitive at first but mastering the skill will help you navigate safely across slick, wet roads. 6. Driving Too Close to Other Drivers Tailgating another driver is never a good idea, but it becomes even more dangerous when driving in wet conditions. You won't be able to react as quickly when driving on slippery roads. Maintain a safe separation from other drivers to give yourself enough space to react if they stop short or slow down. 7. Not Preparing the Vehicle Adequately Staying safe in inclement weather starts even before you set out on the road. Make sure that your headlights and windshield wipers are working correctly, and that your tires have adequate tread to handle slippery roads. You should also keep up to date on your routine maintenance, as you don't want problems arising when you're already dealing with difficult conditions. Get Your Car Prepared with Auto Service in Silver Spring, MD Make sure that your vehicle is ready for anything the weather can throw at it by making an appointment with our service team. Visit DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Silver Spring today!

One of the main reasons for accidents on the road is driving while distracted. Cell phones, food and drink, and other passengers, can all cause you to take your eyes off our Maryland roads and lose your focus. Today, let's have a look at some of the best ways you can avoid distracted driving in and around your local Silver Spring, MD area. 1. Stop When You are Hungry or Tired Sometimes, driving for long periods at a time is unavoidable; but you should always take the time for short breaks to rest, stretch your legs, and have a snack. Fatigue can be a big distraction, and it can stop you from effectively multitasking, for example when you need to use your navigation system while driving. Generally, experts recommend that you take a 15-minute break every 2 hours in order to remain alert while you drive. more At that time, you should also have a drink and a snack because you can avoid eating and driving at the same time that way. Although an estimated 35% of drivers sometimes eat while driving, this can be very dangerous because you're not only taking your eyes from the road, but you're also removing your hands from the steering wheel. 2. Encourage Your Passengers to Help Aside from common distractions such as cell phones and make-up, many drivers also report that their passengers have caused them to take their eyes off the road in the past. If you're transporting babies or toddlers, this might be unavoidable, but adults and older children can be encouraged to help you retain your focus. For example, you could tell them to stop distracting you and help you by looking out at the road instead. 3. Allow Enough Time With work, family, and other daily tasks, many of us don't have a lot of time to spare. Despite this, do everything you can to avoid driving in a rush. Not only can this cause you to lose your focus because you're worried about being late, but it can also make you drive faster than you usually would. In addition to this, it's crucial that you don't try to complete other tasks while you drive to work. It's best to give yourself enough time for everything before you leave the house. The same goes for answering calls or text messages. While you're driving, the only thing you should be thinking of is the road and potential hazards you might encounter. Remember These Tips and Get Your Car Serviced in Silver Spring Routinely Driving while distracted by other tasks or people can be very dangerous, and it is one of the leading causes of accidents. For this reason, you should always stop when you notice you're hungry and tired, encourage your passengers not to distract you, and allow enough time for your trips. Find out more about safe driving techniques and how to prepare for car emergencies at our Silver Spring car dealership. Keep these tips in mind, but also remember your regular car maintenance. Get in touch with us at DARCARS Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM of Silver Spring to schedule a maintenance appointment.