Is the California drought a roadmap to danger? At the very least, it’s cause for more caution than ever when driving.

Oil, lubricants and other fluids constantly drip from cars onto the road. With regular rainfall, these substances wash off the road. In drought conditions, however, the fluids build up on the road surface. This creates a much higher number of slick spots than usual.

Ironically, the rain that cleans the roads can make them more hazardous. When it has rained during the drought, the accumulated grease and oil can loosen and spread, making the roads even more dangerous until the fluids wash off.

In addition, the dry spell can cause the soil under roads to buckle, cracking the road surface and creating more road hazards.   

So how can we handle the dangerous road conditions? Keep these safe driving tips in mind:

• Even if the road seems dry, use extra caution and maintain a safe speed.
• Allow extra time to get to your destination.
• Don’t panic if you start to skid. Take your foot off the accelerator and steer with the skid. As you come out of the skid, press firmly on your anti-lock brakes (pump the brakes once if you don’t have the anti-lock feature).

For information on auto insurance in Southern California, contact Young Insurance.