Driving in the rain

[bridget]

I'd really like to drive over to Siesta Key for the day from Kissimmee - heard it's lovely. I drove all over the place the last time we went but got caught in a torrential downpour coming back from Busch Gardens. On I4 and couldn't see a damn thing - even when wipers are on full speed and it's put me off driving a bit. What are you supposed to do in this type of situation? Any tips greatly appreciated.

[blott]

Pull off the Interstate Bridget or pull over if on another road! How can you possibly drive if you can't see anything? [:0] If it really is very bad, you'll find cars pulled over everywhere waiting for the worst to pass overhead.

I guess you already know the Florida law about putting on your headlights when turning on your wipers?

[Carla]

Make sure that your lights are on full.

On the one occassion that this happened to us we just kept up with the traffic until we could get off the Interstate. Then we went and sat it out in a restaurant with coffees etc. until the worst had passed. An hour later and we were back on the road again.

The very worst thing that you can do is to slow down more than the rest of the Interstate traffic does, or to pull over and stop on the Interstate.

[brizzle]

We had this a few weeks ago Bridget.
The most awful rain I have ever driven in, full wipers and full lights and I could still not see.
Ended up pulling into a parking lot about 3 times to wait for the worst to pass over. At one point I turned and thought I had turned into one of the lakes...seriously it was that deep!!

Very scary...I can see why people would be put off.

Brizzle

[bridget]

Thanks Brizzle.

You see - not just me [msnwink] Easier said than done trying to get off I4 when there's no bloody exit!!

Headlights do go on - I just wish the wipers would go faster! [msnsmile2]

[george]

Picking up on carlas comments about putting you lights on full. I thought it was law to put your lights on in the rain. New visitors may not know this.

[Carla]

Blott said it above George.

Nowadays though most cars, particularly full size and above, are automatically programmed to do this, unless you get an older car, which you're not likely to get from either Dollar or Alamo.

Also, various driving instructions come with the booklet that you get when you get a car hire voucher. So all guests who aren't sure of the Florida driving rules should read this.

[floridadreamvilla.co.uk]

I think it is Orlandobabe's husband that spays on a special product on the windscreen that helps in this situation. Although I could have got that completely wrong. Alison if you are around can you enlighten me and the rest of the forum please?

Thanks

Sarah

[mikewj]

We've been on I4 during a zero visibility rain strom and didn't know what to do, but found that a lot of cars just pulled into the big grassy central reservation and stopped until it got better, so we followed suit.

I suppose that the police don't really mind as they'd rather have a lot of cars parked off the road than a huge pile up.

[lindajo]

Rain X - yellow container - available from any US motoring shop is the product. You apply it to your windscreen as per instructions, this then allows you to drive in the rain without your wipers and the water beads up and runs off instantly. Very good - we have used it both in Florida and in the UK.

Lindajo