John Townsend
Public Relations Manager, DC
O: (202) 481-6820 (ext. 4462108)
C: (202) 253-2171
jtownsend@aaamidatlantic.com
WASHINGTON, D. C. (Monday, September 17, 2018)–– Cloudburst. The remnants of Florence are “creeping around our back stairs” and lurking around our front doors. She could spawn isolated tornadoes and the likelihood of heavy rain in portions of Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia and the panhandle of West Virginia. Slow down as soon as the rain begins to fall, or at the first sign of rain, warns AAA. This is when many road surfaces are most slippery because all that moisture that tends to mix with oil and dust has not been washed away yet by the early rain.
Downpour. The Inuit have 50 words for snow, it is said. It is likely the British might have 50 words or idiomatic expressions, for rain, such as “Scotch Mist,” says the BBC. Americans may have as many idioms. “Sokanon” is the feminine name for rain among the Algonquin. No matter what we call the rain, it behooves all of us, motorists and commuters alike, to remember that the first 10 minutes of a downpour present the highest risk of hydroplaning, warns AAA Mid-Atlantic.
Rainfall. Wet pavement contributes to nearly 1.2 million traffic crashes each year, AAA Mid-Atlantic advises. Rain decreases visibility and increases needed stopping distances. Normal dry pavement following distances (3 to 4 seconds in ideal conditions) should be increased to 8 seconds when driving on slippery surfaces.
Thundershowers. Rain is a factor in more than a half million (518,303) police-reported crashes per year, resulting in 2,239 deaths and 206,474 injuries annually, according to research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. During their soggy commutes, area motorists must cope with the risks of hydroplaning. “With as little as 1 ½ inch of water on the road, tires need to displace a gallon of water per second to keep the rubber meeting the road,” advises AAA Mid-Atlantic.
“Hydroplaning occurs when your tires ride up on a film of water and lose contact with the roadway,” said Kurt Gray, Director, Driver Services, AAA Mid-Atlantic. “If your vehicle starts to hydroplane, take your foot off the accelerator and let the vehicle slow down naturally – stay off the brakes. To reduce chances of hydroplaning, slow down, avoid hard braking or turning sharply and drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.”
Isolated tornadoes. What is more, as the “remnants of Florence weaken and eject northeast an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out during this time,” advises the National Weather Service. That could create an “extremely risky” situation for area residents and motorists. “There is no safe option when caught in a tornado in a car, just slightly less-dangerous ones,” warns the Storm Prediction Center. Most of all, “avoid seeking shelter under bridges, which can create deadly traffic hazards while offering little protection against flying debris.”
Precipitation. The weather forecast also calls for average rainfall amounts of one to two inches, scattered thunderstorms, and the prospect of localized flooding, which, as it turns out, is Florence’s stock-in-trade in the Carolinas. A “flash flood watch” has been issued, and is still in effect, for parts of the Washington and Baltimore Metropolitan areas, warns the National Weather Service. Given such conditions, it does not take much water to cause a car’s engine to stall, leaving motorists stranded. As little as six inches of water on a road can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles.
“A Flash Flood Watch means that conditions may develop that lead to flash flooding,” explains the National Weather Service, the Federal Government agency that is tasked providing weather forecasts and warnings of hazardous weather. “Flash flooding is a very dangerous situation. You should monitor later forecasts and be prepared to take action should Flash Flood Warnings be issued.”
Rainwater. Heading into this week Washington area residents had already “endured the fourth-wettest year on record to date,” according to the Capital Weather Gang. So far this year, Washington has already seen nearly “46 inches.”
That is why it is imperative for area motorists to stay away from bridges and roads that are known to flood. If the roadway has been flooded, take a detour – floodwaters can be deceptively strong.
AAA provides the following wet weather driving tips for motorists:
· Whenever possible, avoid driving in poor weather conditions.
· Make sure your vehicle is mechanically sound.
· Reduce speed.
· Turn on headlights.
· If you experience a loss of traction, remember to look and steer where you want to go.
· Accelerate and decelerate slowly.
· Increase following distances.
· Do not brake and turn at the same time.
· Be smooth accelerating, turning & braking,
· Be predictable.
o Signal.
o Plan ahead.
o Don’t surprise anyone.
Drizzle. By the way, carry a cell phone and make sure it is charged. AAA members can dial 1-800-AAA-HELP for emergency road service.
Driving rain. The AAA Foundation research report, titled Motor Vehicle Crashes, Injuries and Deaths in Relation to Weather Conditions, finds that driving in the rain is a potentially serious hazard. Of the roughly 5.74 million vehicle crashes every year, about 1.25 million (22 percent) occur in adverse weather conditions on slick pavement, according to the Federal Highway Administration. An average of 6,000 people are killed and 445,000 injured in weather-related crashes annually. Nearly three-quarters of all weather-related crashes happen on wet pavement, and nearly half take place in the rain.
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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 58 million members nationwide and nearly 79,000 members in the District of Columbia. AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years. The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit https://aaa.com
Ragina C. Ali
Public Relations Manager, MD
O: (410) 616-1900 (ext. 4361152)
C: (443) 465-5020
RAli@aaamidatlantic.com