Night Rain on a Curve With Faded Lines
It is 11 p.m. and raining steadily. You are on a two-lane rural road posted at 45 mph. The center line is faded and hard to see in the wet glare; the edge line on your right is largely worn away. Your headlights show about 150 feet ahead on low beam. A car approaches from the opposite direction with bright headlights, and you can see the glow of another vehicle's lights behind you, fairly close. The road curves gently to the right ahead. You feel the steering get slightly light as you cross a patch of standing water.
1. How should you adjust speed and lane position, and why?
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Several factors stack up: wet pavement reduces tire grip, standing water can cause hydroplaning (the light steering is an early sign), visibility is limited to about 150 feet on low beams, and the lane markings are unreliable guides.
- Slow down. At 45 mph you cover about 66 feet per second, so 150 feet of visibility gives you only a little over two seconds of reaction and stopping distance - too little on wet pavement. Reduce speed until you can stop within the distance you can see.
- Ease off the accelerator smoothly when you feel the steering lighten; do not brake hard or jerk the wheel, which can trigger a skid or worsen hydroplaning. Hold a steady line and let the tires regain contact.
- Use the right edge as your reference but do not hug it blindly, since the edge line is worn. Aim for the center of your lane using the road's general shape and any remaining markings.
- Do not use high beams into oncoming headlights; keep low beams and look toward the right edge of your lane to avoid glare.
2. What should you do about the vehicle close behind you and the oncoming car?
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The close follower limits your ability to brake suddenly, so increase your following distance from the car ahead (if any) and avoid abrupt stops; slow gradually and early so the follower has time to react. Do not speed up beyond what conditions allow just to satisfy the tailgater. For the oncoming car, resist the urge to stare at its lights - look to the right edge of your lane to hold your position and reduce glare. If the oncoming driver drifts over the center line, be ready to slow and move right, but do not swerve off the road into an unseen shoulder.