The San Diego Traveler

It’s Raining, It’s Pouring and San Diego is Crashing!

by Carole A. Lane on November 30th, 2007

If you’re new to town, or a tourist in San Diego, you should probably stay off the roads today. 

No, I’m serious. You’re probably laughing now, right? You’ve driven in blizzards, huge storms, or far more dangerous conditions elsewhere, and after all, it’s just a little rain! That’s entirely true, but it’s a sad fact:

San Diegans can’t drive in rain!

This phenomenon is not unique to San Diegans; I have first-hand knowledge that it extends throughout Southern California, and probably beyond. It just seems worse in San Diego, mostly due to speed.

During normal traffic conditions, San Diegans drive at 70 to 75 mph on the freeways. It can be a little frightening if you’re used to driving 55, as you’ll find San Diego drivers swerving around you, hoping to avoid colliding with you slowpokes.

Unfortunately, rain doesn’t seem to slow down some of our locals, and with wet, slippery roads, this is a formula for disaster. You only need to check today’s traffic reports to confirm this for yourself.

If you must hit the road today, here’s some advice from the California Department of Motor Vehicles:

With the oils and exhaust that accumulate on highways, only a small amount of precipitation can cause the roadway to become slick, hindering your ability to control and stop the vehicle.

Drive Smart

The first rule of actually driving in hazardous conditions, which also might include times of low visibility from fog or fire, is to use common sense. If visibility is low, you need to slow way down. If you can’t see more than a few feet in front of your vehicle, it is unsafe to drive―at all. In this case, pull off the road as far as you can, turn on your hazards, and get away from the vehicle and the roadway in case your car is struck by another motorist who can’t see anything either.

Road Test

The second rule of driving in hazardous conditions is to familiarize yourself with those conditions. Pick a place where there is plenty of roadway. After making sure there are no other vehicles approaching from behind or head on, try to stop quickly to test the conditions. This will give you a better sense of how much extra stopping space you will need to maintain. It will also make you better at reactive driving to avoid a collision or loss of control.

Safe Speed and Distance

The third rule of driving in hazardous conditions centers on slowing down and keeping a safe distance between yourself and the drivers in front of you. Think about what would happen if a deer were to jump out on a snowy highway, and the person in front of you slammed on the brakes. Consider whether you would be able to stop soon enough if there was an accident up ahead of you. Don’t let other drivers riding too close behind you force you into tailgating, too.

The most common mistake that motorists make is not leaving enough of a cushion between themselves and motorists in front of them. You are not competing in a race. You are trying to enjoy the ride to your destination and keep yourself and your passengers safe. If the driver behind you can’t leave the proper distance between their front bumper and your rear end, don’t respond by hitting the brakes. Simply maintain your speed. If you leave enough room in front of you, there will be space for the aggressive driver to pass and get back into rushing along. Don’t be surprised when you later see that motorist pulled over by police or off the road because of loss of control.

Be careful and slow down, San Diego. The sunny skies will be back with us soon, and you want to be here to see them, don’t you?

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POSTED IN: Tourism/Travel, Weather