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DPS shares tips on safe driving during rainy weather

Sergeant Bryan Washko said reducing speed around 10-15 mph below the speed limit on the highway and increasing space between yourself and other drivers will help.

WACO, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety is giving warning to drivers during their Mother's Day travel as wet and rainy conditions continue to grip Central Texas.

DPS Sergeant Bryan Washko said safe driving preparations need to be made before drivers even hit the roads.

"Making sure those tires are intact, and number one those windshield wipers, we may not use them all summer long which causes them to have a tendency to dry rot," Washko said.  "Your head lights as well, make sure they're on along with your tail lights for high visibility."

Washko said the number one cause of crashes during rainy weather comes from hydroplaning, with drivers going too fast on the roadways.

"You want to be giving extra room to other vehicles in front of you if you're travelling along the interstate," Washko said. "Sometimes it's acceptable to even double or triple your following distance depending on the visibility."

Washko echoes the call of "turn around, don't drown" and urges drivers to find alternate routes when large pools of standing water are in the roadway. He said driving through the puddles at excessive speeds can cause water spills into a car's engine intake.

Washko said if roads are blocked off, drivers are not allowed to bypass the barricades.

"If you go around that barricade and have to be rescued, once you're rescued, unfortunately you're going to be taken to jail because it puts everybody in danger to get you out of that situation you should not have been into," Washko said.

Washko said cutting out other distractions like food, phones and staring at a GPS screen will also help in getting from point A to point B on Mother's Day.

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