Weird and Funny Video? Not Really....

We found this video on YouTube, and, despite the title, we think it illustrates an important point when driving in wet weather. In this particular video there are several elements that make this driving experience all the more treacherous:

1. The wet weather!

2. People NOT slowing down in wet weather!

3. People NOT slowing down when approaching the curve--in wet or dry weather!

Added to this is the dismaying lack of any sort of regulatory or advisory sign before the curve--or at least one that could be seen on the video.

All these elements make for very dangerous driving. Make no mistake, while the filmmakers clearly intended this to be a form of entertainment, judging from the title and the accompanying music; to us, it is a very pointed reminder that this sort of driving is no joke! It also goes without saying that all these drivers would fail the Behind the Wheel test at their DMV!

One thing to keep in mind while watching this video, is that probably most of the drivers use this route on a daily basis as part of their commute, and therefore may think that they know how to take the curve in any sort of weather. This is dangerous thinking, as you'll hopefully notice as you watch the film. Never underestimate what could happen in an unexpected situation, such as a pedestrian stepping off the curb when you least expect it. On a sharp curve, you cannot really see this happening until it's too late. Look closely at the film and you'll see some frightening near misses involving pedestrians as well as on-coming and cross traffic.

Please, always remember in wet weather, always drive 5 to 10 mph slower than the posted speed limit! Especially during the first few days of rainy weather when the roads are particularly slick due to a build up of dirt and oil! Also, coming on a blind, uncontrolled intersection, such as the curve shown in the video, slow down to 15 mph before entering it!

For more tips, see The Driver Guy's Blog entry for December 22, 2009 for a more complete explanation on defensive driving in foul weather.

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