If you don’t see the painted lines, don’t drive through.
If caught in heavy rain, remember to:
- Turn on your headlamps – Simply turning on your headlamps makes your vehicle more visible.
- Reduce your speed – Reducing your speed lessens the chances of hydroplaning. Should you hydroplane, immediately take your foot off the accelerator. Don’t apply the brakes or turn the steering wheel. A rotating tire has traction; a sliding one does not.
- Maintain a safe distance – Increasing the space between the vehicle ahead reduces the chances of a collision.
- Avoid high water – Not only may it save your car from damage, but it may also save your life.
- Hold Off On Unnecessary Trips – Ask yourself if you’ve driven in this kind of weather before and if you’re ready to handle it right now. It’s OK to stay home in heavy rain. If you have a small business in a flood-prone area and there’s lots of precipitation on the way, try to make arrangements for employees to work from home so they don’t have to worry about making the commute on potentially flooded roads.
If time permits before the next rainstorm:
- Check your wiper blades – Regular use takes its toll on wiper blades. Streaks left on the windshield might mean it’s time to replace your wiper blades.
- Check your tires – Worn tires, combined with oils from the road, make it easy to lose traction and slide. Tire tread patterns are designed to do different tasks depending on your driving needs, and one of its primary functions is pushing water out and away from the tire.
If you have a loss, please report it as quickly as possible, using GEICO Mobile. You can visit our website or call (800) 841-3000 24 hours a day. Learn about GEICO’s Catastrophe Response Team and how we service severe storms. Please click the links for more detailed information on safe driving in the heavy rain and getting your home Flood-Ready.
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company), the second-largest auto insurer in the U.S., was founded in 1936 and insures more than 28 million vehicles in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. A member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies, GEICO employs more than 43,000 associates countrywide. GEICO constantly strives to make lives better by protecting people against unexpected events while saving them money and providing an outstanding customer experience.