JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After an extended dry period, Jacksonville’s recent heavy rainfall has created hazardous driving conditions.
Several crashes have happened over the span of the last two days, although we don’t know the exact cause of the collisions.
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A woman died Saturday night when a driver lost control of their vehicle and slammed into the back of her SUV on JTB westbound, near Belfort Road, pushing her vehicle into two other cars.
While the exact cause remains under investigation, the incident occurred during intermittent rainfall.
Then, overnight, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office shut down Argyle Forest Boulevard at Old Middleburg Road South from another crash.
And Sunday evening, another crash forced authorities to close two eastbound lanes on JTB.
“When it starts raining, people seem to just forget all things that they need to think about,” said Tom Hackney, News4JAX Crime and Safety Analyst. “We saw that crash on JTB last night. That was a fatality, it’s horrible... you have to leave distance between the car in front of you and yourself because you just don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Vehicle maintenance critical
Hackney, drawing from his experience with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, emphasizes that proper vehicle maintenance is crucial for safe driving in wet conditions.
He specifically points to three key areas drivers should monitor:
- Windshield wipers: “You don’t think about those when it’s dry out, but when it starts raining, if those aren’t in good shape, you’re limiting your visibility.”
- Tires: “You see a lot of people who don’t have good tires. That’s really crucial for moving water out from underneath your tires. You get hydroplaning... you add speed and water and bad tires, limited visibility. All these things come together.”
- Brakes: Regular brake maintenance is essential for safe stopping distances in wet conditions.
Safety tips for driving in rain
Safety experts recommend several precautions for driving in wet weather:
- Reduce speed during rainfall
- Maintain extra following distance from other vehicles
- If possible, avoid driving during heavy rain events
- Don’t pull over on highway shoulders during storms
Regarding emergency stops, Hackney advises against pulling onto highway shoulders during heavy rain, as reduced visibility makes this practice dangerous.
Instead, drivers should exit the highway and find a safe location like a parking lot or side street to wait out severe weather.