With rain on the radar, here are safe driving tips for wet roadways

SMITH COUNTY, Texas ( KETK ) – With as little as 1/12th of an inch of water on the road, hydroplaning can pose a danger to drivers as they navigate East Texas.

According to the Texas Department of Insurance, rain accounts for 85% of all weather-related crashes in Texas.

Experts say there are steps to take before you hit the road to make sure your car is prepared for any weather condition.

“You want to think about three things in particular: your windshield wipers, lights and tires,” Daniel Armbruster with AAA Public Affairs said. “You want to make sure all of those are in good working condition.”

Armbruster also said that wipers should be replaced every few months, headlights cleaned and tires checked by professionals.

“The tread pattern on the car on the tire is what sheds the water out from under the tire so that the rubber stays in contact with the road,” Owner Stewart’s Donnybrook Automotive Gary Stewart said. “The thinner that tread, is the less water is shed away which increases the possibility of what they call a hydroplane.”

Armbruster said there are about 1.2 million wet pavement crashes in the country each year.

AAA said that while the road is wet the best piece of advice for drivers is to slow down and reduce driving speed to give yourself plenty of time to arrive to your destination safely

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