Issues driving in the rain...

[Schwerin]

... and I'm hoping you have tips to help me get over it.



Every accident I have ever been involved in has happened during/just after rain/snow fall, and none have been my fault, nor have I physically been injured in any of them.



I had someone slid into my back end while sitting at a light.

I had someone fishtail while pulling out and hit the side of me.

I was passenger when the driver was unable to stop in snow and slid into another car.

I had someone side swipe me in the rain when thy didn't see me at night in the rain and tried to change lanes.

I had someone tap my rear and send me into a tailspin.

I has someone blow a light in the snow during a power outage and instead of stopping at the disconnected light smashed into my passenger side.



This has lead to me being VERY paranoid while driving in the rain. More so at night. I find it hard to even keep up with the speed limit let alone the flow of traffic. Every bump in the road make me worry I may end up spinning out, or that I may be just on the verge of sliding out. My muscles are physically tense the WHOLE ride. I am NOT like this when it's dry out, or when say just doing an easy 45mph or so. It's just highway speeds. I know that I feel more secure when driving an AWD car, some reason I just have more trust that the 4WD/AWD will keep me from sliding.

Does anyone have ANY tips that could be helpful to help me get over this? It's been a thing for almost 6 years now and it's driving me nuts. I don't actively avoid driving in the rain as I know I won't get over it if I do, but every time I get home after doing so my back is a painful knot from being so tense the whole drive. As much as I love my mustang I'm starting to wonder if I should trade to something like a AWD Turbo Mazda 3 or a Subaru just so I dont feel so needlessly nervous, but I'd rather get over my issue.

Thanks.

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[RichGT350R]

I had a bad run a long time ago. (3) “Bangers” in (6) months. All weather related. It didn’t stop me from driving, yes shaken up. A few bucks of damage. No one was hurt so I moved on. Things happen. Don’t stop enjoying your car! Things can happen no matter what you drive. You had some bad breaks.. Keep a good outlook and Keep Enjoying Your Ride! Bad things happen to good people and No Good Deed Goes Unpunished! Be well!

 

[Schwerin]

I had a bad run a long time ago. (3) “Bangers” in (6) months. All weather related. It didn’t stop me from driving, yes shaken up. A few bucks of damage. No one was hurt so I moved on. Things happen. Don’t stop enjoying your car! Things can happen no matter what you drive. You had some bad breaks.. Keep a good outlook and Keep Enjoying Your Ride! Bad things happen to good people and No Good Deed Goes Unpunished! Be well!

yeah im trying. I've found that trying to focus on something playing like radio or a podcast distracts my mind from the fact Im driving in the rain so I try to do that. It's just so frustrating.

 

[RichGT350R]

yeah im trying. I've found that trying to focus on something playing like radio or a podcast distracts my mind from the fact Im driving in the rain so I try to do that. It's just so frustrating.

I hear ya! You can’t change yesterday and no one knows what tomorrow will bring. That’s why today is called the present... and it’s just that, A Present! Enjoy the day, enjoy your car! If you like your car, enjoy it.

 

[Five_OhGT]

I think it's pretty natural to not feel comfortable driving through inclement weather. I won't even drive my Mustang if it's raining outside. Whenever I do get stuck in the rain, I typically drive under the speed limit. I just stick to the far right lane and let the maniacs pass. While that doesn't necessarily help avoiding accidents that aren't your fault, there's no point in stressing over things that are outside of your control.

 

[Ock]

i h8 driving in rain/night. ive lost 2 mustangs to both, one was a drunks fault though... i feel your pain. ease in to it, dont push to hard. it will come back.

 

[Schwerin]

i h8 driving in rain/night. ive lost 2 mustangs to both, one was a drunks fault though... i feel your pain. ease in to it, dont push to hard. it will come back.

Currently I just drive in the slow lane, but it annoys me SO much, it's been so long and I cant seem to get past it. It's been about 3.5-4yrs since the last incident. I know it's me hyper-focusing on it, and anything that keeps me from doing that, also means I cant drive while on it (meds, drinks, ect), so they are like a catch-22.

 

[Ninpop9]

I own a V6 and even with the 310 horsepower driving in the rain and the snow does make me hate other drivers. I tend to just take it slow, I totally relate to the whole tensed up while driving idea. As for people sliding into you, I've found that keeping a huge amount of distance Infront of me at stops gives me the opportunity to get out of a situation that could have resulted in a rear-end collision. Where I live during the winter we get horrible snow and snow tires have saved my life.

 

[Schwerin]

I own a V6 and even with the 310 horsepower driving in the rain and the snow does make me hate other drivers. I tend to just take it slow, I totally relate to the whole tensed up while driving idea. As for people sliding into you, I've found that keeping a huge amount of distance Infront of me at stops gives me the opportunity to get out of a situation that could have resulted in a rear-end collision. Where I live during the winter we get horrible snow and snow tires have saved my life.

Yeah I roll on Blizzaks in the winter months to be safe.

 

[RichGT350R]

I own a V6 and even with the 310 horsepower driving in the rain and the snow does make me hate other drivers. I tend to just take it slow, I totally relate to the whole tensed up while driving idea. As for people sliding into you, I've found that keeping a huge amount of distance Infront of me at stops gives me the opportunity to get out of a situation that could have resulted in a rear-end collision. Where I live during the winter we get horrible snow and snow tires have saved my life.

Even in good weather, I leave at least a car and a half in front of me and keep an eye in the mirror! A habit I had for a lot of years..

I few close calls, but I had a way to avoid it.

 

[Crew4991]

I own a V6 and even with the 310 horsepower driving in the rain and the snow does make me hate other drivers. I tend to just take it slow, I totally relate to the whole tensed up while driving idea. As for people sliding into you, I've found that keeping a huge amount of distance Infront of me at stops gives me the opportunity to get out of a situation that could have resulted in a rear-end collision. Where I live during the winter we get horrible snow and snow tires have saved my life.

Amen to the winter tires! I had no clue how much of a difference they make. When I first bought my car I would slip all over the place. Made it through one winter just fine however my anxiety levels were through the roof driving in snow/rain all tensed up to work, grocery store, visiting friends. Always knew winter tires were better for bad weather conditions, just never knew how different until I got them! Running on Pirelli Sottozero 3s here.

 

[Ewheels]

Maybe take a wet weather driving course. One where they spray down the track to intentionally make it slippery to teach you car control when grip is gone. Granted this won't keep other people from sliding into you but it may give you some added confidence and peace of mind.

 

[CJJon]

Try the Rain and Snow setting.

 

[331GT]

if your problems have all truly been someone else's fault, not much you can do. relax but pay attention to your surroundings more. check to see who's approaching intersections in a perpendicular lane to yours. leave enough/extra space behind other cars at a red light, etc for an "escape route." if you see someone behind you coming up too quickly, you may have room to get out of the way. ive been driving in chicagoland in rain and snow since 2004 so i guess im not phased. you cant help what other people do. ive driven cars that were horrible in the snow and cars that were great, it doesnt matter what you're in if someone else isnt paying attention. doing your best to watch what other people are doing may be the only thing you can do, and even then, it may still not be enough to prevent someone else from hitting you.

 

[Schwerin]

if your problems have all truly been someone else's fault, not much you can do. relax but pay attention to your surroundings more. check to see who's approaching intersections in a perpendicular lane to yours. leave enough/extra space behind other cars at a red light, etc for an "escape route." if you see someone behind you coming up too quickly, you may have room to get out of the way. ive been driving in chicagoland in rain and snow since 2004 so i guess im not phased. you cant help what other people do. ive driven cars that were horrible in the snow and cars that were great, it doesnt matter what you're in if someone else isnt paying attention. doing your best to watch what other people are doing may be the only thing you can do, and even then, it may still not be enough to prevent someone else from hitting you.

It seems to feel like my issues are me FEELING like the cars already pushing its limits for some reason. Even as a Honda Fit zooms past me. It just seems to be excessive paranoia that I have to push past. I drove a Mach1 for 7yrs in the snow with proper tires and never had any issues. Even enjoyed it. Now it almost terrifying. Even when the roads are nearly empty.

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