SD County Car Crashes Surge During Overnight Rain

Car accidents overnight in San Diego County doubled typical hourly averages as the rain moved in, according to California Highway Patrol data released Thursday morning.

From midnight to 9 a.m. Thursday, there were 70 crashes throughout the county, the CHP reported, an average of 7.8 accidents an hour. On a typical "good weather" day, there are 50 to 75 accidents in a 24-hour period, for an average of 2.1 to 3.1 accidents an hour.

By 10 a.m. Thursday, the number of crashes had risen to 74.

The rain is expected by forecasters to last through the weekend. To help avoid car accidents in the rain, follow these tips from The Automobile Club of Southern California:

• Slow down. Be especially careful about driving through puddles. Slower driving also will help drivers be ready for sudden stops because of debris in the road or other weather related hazards.
• Maintain extra distance behind other drivers. The Automobile Club says drivers need two to three times more stopping distance on wet pavement than dry, so the extra distance will come in handy if you need to make a sudden stop.
• Drive in center lanes to avoid outside lanes where water may pool.
• Stay aware of weather conditions by checking news reports. Also, avoid distractions while driving.

Other tips are to make sure car tires are properly inflated and have sufficient tread (at least 1/32 of an inch between two adjacent grooves).

Also, make sure windshield wiper blades are in good condition. The same goes for your brakes. If either aren't up to par, get them replaced or fixed right away.

Remember, if your windshield wipers are on, by state law, your headlights must be on, too.