Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps s3

NAVAL RESERVE OFFICERS TRAINING CORPS NAVAL SCIENCE LABORATORY

LESSON 24 HOURS: 40 Minutes

TITLE: DRIVING IN THE RAIN

I. LEARNING OBJECTIVE: Know the basic safety procedures and techniques for driving a motor vehicle on wet roads and in the rain.

II. REFERENCES AND TEXTS

A. Instructor reference

1. “Tips for Driving in Rain” on Smart Motorist website at: http://www.smartmotorist.com/rai/rai.htm

2. “Driving in the Rain” on National Safety Council website at: http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/autorain.htm

B. Student texts: None

III. INSTRUCTIONAL AIDS

A. PowerPoint slides included with this guide or instructor-prepared transparencies

B. LCD projection system or overhead projector

C. Computer

IV. INSTRUCTOR PREPARATION: Review references and lesson plan.

V. SUGGESTED TEACHING METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Lecture/Discussion.

VI. INTRODUCTION (On-Slide #1)

INSTRUCTOR’S NOTE: Ensure LCD or overhead projector is in place and presentation is ready. Have the introductory slide on screen.

24-1 A. GAIN ATTENTION: In September of 2002, rainstorms dumped more than half a foot of rain in north Texas over one weekend, contributing to at least four deaths. (Off-Slide #1, On-Slide #2)

An unidentified 61-year old woman died when her car hydroplaned and flipped into a rain-swollen creek. A 26-year-old man drowned in Parker County when swift waters swept him away as he was walking across a spillway trying to convince his wife it was safe to drive across. Police said a one-car traffic fatality in Fort Worth was weather-related. A driver lost control of the vehicle on a slick road and skidded into tree. Also, a 14-year-old girl died in a two- vehicle accident caused by a car fishtailing on wet pavement and crashing into a truck.

(Off-Slide #2, On-Slide #3)

I doubt any one of the tragic victims of this storm’s effects awoke that September morning with the belief that they would meet their death that day due to a rainstorm. But, the fact is that rain contributes to countless automobile accidents and deaths each day in the United States. Because of this, it is important for you to pay close attention to the information presented in this brief.

B. OVERVIEW: The purpose of this lesson is for each midshipman to have a thorough understanding of what they can do to reduce the effects of rain when they are driving a motor vehicle. The Navy and Marine Corps loses many Sailors and Marines each year to automobile accidents and related injuries and fatalities. As a future leader of Sailors and Marines, it is important for you to know and remind others of the dangers inherent to driving a motor vehicle.

C. LEARNING OBJECTIVES: Review the learning objective for this lesson.

D. METHOD/MEDIA: This lesson will be taught using the lecture method, aided by the use of various slides.

24-2 TRANSITION: Are there any questions about the subject or how we will accomplish our task? If not, let’s begin with some tips to remember before and during drives in the rain.

VII. PRESENTATION (Off-Slide #3, On-Slide #4)

A. Tips for driving in the rain

1. Slow Down. This should be obvious but it’s also very important. People are so used to driving at certain speeds on certain roads that sometimes they forget the need to slow down in inclement weather.

2. Before You Drive. Wet-weather driving demands gentle use of all the main automotive controls -- steering, clutch, brake, and accelerator -- and a larger allowance for errors and emergencies. When you begin a journey in the rain, your shoes will be wet and liable to slip off the pedals. Scuff the soles on the rubber matting or carpeting of the car before you start the engine. Everyone who owns and drives an automobile should regularly check their headlights, taillights, brake lights, and turn signals to ensure they are working properly.

3. Maintain Your Tires. Check your tires on a regular basis. Bald tires significantly reduce your traction on wet roadways and offer little resistance to hydroplaning. When your tires run over water, the water is displaced, and it needs to go somewhere quickly. The best place for it to go is between the treads of your tires. If your tires are bald, the water has no place to go, and you end up riding on a nearly frictionless layer of water like a boat. (Off-Slide #6, On-Slide #7)

4. Maintain Your Windshield Wipers. Check your wipers regularly (at least every six months), and replace them at least once a year. Wiper blades

24-3 in bad condition don't clear water from the windshield very well and distort your view. Older vehicles may need to have the whole wiper arm replaced. The arms bend over time and become unable to keep enough downward pressure to clear the windshield, even with new blades installed. Wipers will often clear light rain from the windshield with a few sweeps and then run on an almost-dry windshield, leaving smeared dirt. Don't be afraid to use the windshield washer fluid liberally. The fluid is cheap (99 cents a gallon) and the benefit for increased safety is high. Carry extra fluid during the winter.

Don't follow large trucks or busses too closely. Water splashed and sprayed from these vehicles can obscure your vision, creating a potentially disastrous driving situation. Keep your distance, and your windshield wipers on, when other traffic is in front of you. Also watch for spray from vehicles passing in the opposite direction. They can throw large amounts of water as well.

5. Turn On Your Lights. When visibility is poor or it rains, headlights are a good way to let other drivers know where you are. It's helpful to other travelers, and it also increases your safety. Remember, you are not the only one affected by poor visibility. You may be able to see cars that do not have their headlights on, but other drivers may not have vision or windshield wipers as good as yours. Many states require headlights to be turned on when it is raining or when visibility is reduced to less than 500 feet.

6. Heavy Rain. Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades, allowing an almost continuous sheet of water to flow over the windshield. When visibility is so limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest areas or other protected locations. If the

24-4 roadside is your only option, pull off as far as possible, preferably past the end of a guardrail, and wait until the storm passes -- which is seldom more than a few minutes. Keep your headlights on and turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers.

7. Foggy Windows. Rain or high humidity can quickly cause windows to mist up inside the car. In a car equipped with air conditioning, turn up the heat and direct the airflow to your defrosters with the AC switch engaged. (Many cars automatically engage the AC when switched to the defrost mode.) In a car without AC, the procedure is the same, but you may need to open your side windows to get the air moving. Most modern cars have a built-in rear window defroster that easily clears a foggy rear windshield by heating up electrodes embedded in the glass. If you don't have one, turn your defroster on high, and its hot air will eventually follow the inside of the roof down to the rear window. If the car has swiveling dashboard vents, adjust them so the airflow strikes the upper edge of the side windows. The airflow will clear the side windows first, finally traveling to the rear of the car. If all else fails, a rag or article of clothing will work as well; you'll just need to clear the window more often. Drivers should regularly clean their windshield and windows, both on the inside and outside, to help them see in good and bad weather. Smokers need to take extra care to make sure their interior windows are clear of smoke residue.

8. Handling a Skid. Losing control of your car on wet pavement is a frightening experience. You can prevent skids by driving slowly and carefully, especially on curves. Slow before entering the curve. Steer and brake with a light touch. If you find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully turn in the direction in which you want the front of the car

24-5 to go. This procedure, known as "steering into the skid," will bring the back end of your car in line with the front. For cars without anti-lock brakes, avoid using your brakes. If your car has ABS, brake firmly as you "steer into the skid."

9. Expressway Driving. Leave lots of space between you and the car in front because it takes longer to stop on wet surfaces. You're supposed to leave a few seconds between cars in dry weather. Make sure you add extra space in wet weather; because if you have to hit the brakes hard, your tires will lock up, you will hydroplane, and you will most likely hit the car in front of you. If available, drive in the fast lane, where there are fewer cars and less oil has been deposited on the road. Also, because of the built-in slope of the road, water drains towards the slower lanes. Avoid lane changes, as water tends to build up between the tire ruts in the lanes.

10. Oily Deposits. Watch for intersections, because of the oil spots in the road. Rain is most dangerous when it falls after a long, dry spell onto roads that have become polished and smooth. The rain blends with oil and rubber-dust deposits on the road surface to form a highly dangerous skid mixture. That mixture builds up at intersections, where cars stop and start frequently. Be extra careful immediately after it starts raining, because it takes a while for the worst of the dirt and oil to get washed off the road.

11. Driving Through Water. Many people underestimate how fast a “flash flood” can actually occur. Sometimes, a flash flood can happen in areas where it is not even raining. Water can flow into other “dry” areas or “back-up” due to congested drain systems. It is never a good idea to drive on flooded roadways or in areas where

24-6 "Flash Flood Warnings" have been issued. A "Watch" means conditions are favorable, and a "Warning" means it is actually happening.

People may think the size of a vehicle will protect them in high water. Water weighs 62.4 pounds per cubic foot. Combining the water’s weight and speed means that it has a great deal of momentum when it’s moving. In addition, water under a vehicle can lift it like a boat. For each foot that water rises, it pushes on a car with 500 pounds of force.

Buoyancy becomes very important. A car weighs 1,500 pounds less for each foot the water rises. Water only two feet deep will carry away most cars. Six inches of moving water can sweep a person away.

Many drivers develop a false sense of security from the type of vehicle they drive or their supposed operational features. They fail to realize that many other unseen dangers exist. Water may short-out electrical engine components or render brake systems useless, or waves of water could easily swamp their vehicle and send it floating away. They forget about submerged objects, downed power lines, or other hidden dangers.

What if your vehicle should stall in the water? What if others are in your vehicle? How would you get out? Could you? If trapped in a vehicle surrounded by water, it is recommended that all occupants first free themselves of seatbelts and exit through windows. Opening a door may cause the vehicle to roll over or sink faster, and onrushing water could block escape.

24-7 (Off-Slide #18, On-Slide #19)

Flowing water is one of nature’s most powerful forces. It can literally move tons of soil within seconds and move buildings off of their foundations. A person swept away by fast moving water has a slim chance of survival. The average speed of floodwater is 6 to 12 miles per hour.

B. Before traveling during periods of heavy rains and stormy weather, check the road and weather conditions in the area of your route of travel. Such information can easily be obtained from the Internet or local media.

TRANSITION: Let’s take a few moments to review what we’ve learned by answering a few questions.

VIII. DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

A. If your vehicle is trapped in high water, should you open your vehicle door to escape?

Answer: No. You should exit through windows. Opening a door may cause the vehicle to roll over or sink faster, and onrushing water could block escape.

B. Where do oil and other automotive deposits tend to accumulate on roads and pose a particular hazard?

Answer: At traffic intersections.

IX. SUMMARY

We’ve learned about the dangers of driving an automobile in the rain. We discussed how you could maintain your vehicle to ensure safer driving in rain. We also discussed safer driving techniques for rainy travel and talked about the dangers of driving in standing or moving water. You should never attempt to drive through deep water, no matter how large or rugged your

24-8 vehicle. Driving in rain can be relatively safe, if you adhere to the safety tips presented to you today.