Spring is a welcome season of snow, slush, and cold winter weather. Some drivers will see spring as a time for car maintenance and safety precautions. When you drive if there’s no frost on the road, the winter weather may be low, and the salt will not pound the sides of your car.  Spring poses as many obstacles as winter does, here are some reliable driving tips that can help you be prepared for whatever happens while you’re on the road.

Drive in the middle lanes when it rains

A wet road can be as slick as an icy one. Tires will lose contact with the road which is very dangerous. The rain will cause oil drip from passing vehicles to rise to the top of the water surface. Just stay in the middle lanes for safe driving

Increase your following distance

Increase the distance between you and the vehicle you’re following in the rain. A safe distance is 3 seconds in normal circumstances. During a storm, it must be eight seconds. The three-second rule is to double-check that you’re moving safer. Choose a fixed point that is even with the car in front of you. If you reach the point before 3 counts then you’re too close to the car in front of you, slow down to go back a little bit.

Check the tires on your car

Check the tires frequently, worn treads can cause a loss of traction and thus increase the chances of sliding. Though the tread is fine, you have to make sure whether the tires are properly inflated. Do a penny test to check that your tire has a good tread. 

Clean the windshield and check windshield wipers

Snow, ice, and salt can reduce the efficiency of the wipers so replace them soon. Clean your windshield with a good quality window washer to improve wiper performance. This will automatically remove oily firms that reduce the visibility. Clean the interior part of the glass to take out the film which increases moisture buildup. Most windshield wiper manufacturers recommend replacing your wipers every six to 12 months.

Look out for potholes

Spring is also the pothole season. If you’re in a place where the snow and ice are too much then it can cause dangerous potholes. If you can avoid it while driving it’s ok, otherwise slow down, release the brake and go over the pothole. Braking causes your tire to move into the edge of the pothole with more force than if you’re rolling over the hole.