By how much should you reduce your speed on a wet road?

Reducing your speed by 10 mph on a wet road is a prudent response to changing driving conditions. Wet roads can significantly reduce tire traction, increasing the risk of skidding or losing control of the vehicle. By decreasing your speed, you give yourself more reaction time to respond to hazards and allow your vehicle to maintain better control.

Driving slower helps to prevent hydroplaning, a situation that can occur when a layer of water builds up between the tires and the road surface, causing your vehicle to lose contact with the road. This generally begins at speeds over 30 mph. Thus, reducing your speed by 10 mph not only enhances safety but also helps improve stopping distances, which can be considerably longer on slick surfaces.

Adjusting your speed according to road conditions is a critical aspect of safe driving. This response acknowledges that different levels of speed reduction may be necessary based on specific circumstances, like the severity of rain or the condition of the road. In this case, a 10 mph reduction is a balanced and widely recommended approach in adverse weather conditions to ensure safety for yourself and others on the road.