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Driving in rain can be extremely nerve-wracking and dangerous, especially when it's pouring down and your visibility is impaired. How can you navigate securely during rain? The following tips will help you to drive safely in wet conditions. 1. Defog Your Windows Turn on your heater or defroster and defog your windows before you drive off to ensure that you can see where you are going. There are also products available on the market that will prevent fog from forming on your windows. more 2. Test Your Windshield Wipers Before you take to the road, check that your wipers are in good working order. Test all the settings to ensure that your wipers will give you the visibility you need to see where you are going. 3. Check Your Tire Pressure If your vehicle's tires are in good condition and inflated to the correct pressure, you will have more traction. This will lower the risk of your vehicle sliding and skidding in wet conditions. 4. Put Your Lights On Often, rain can impair visibility on the road, especially during heavier storms. The headlights on your car will increase your visibility and make it easier for other drivers to see you. 5. Drive Slowly The water can make driving conditions very slippery. When you drive fast on wet roads, your car can easily slide over the wet, oily road surface, and you can lose control of your vehicle. If your car hydroplanes, stay calm, immediately take your foot off the gas, and don't steer until your car makes contact with the road again. 6. Keep a Safe Following Distance You want to be able to have time to spot if need be. Keep plenty of space between your vehicle and the one in front of you to assist. This will give you more time to react. 7. Don't Brake Hard If there is enough space between you and the car in front of you, you will have enough time to remove your foot from the accelerator to slow down without hitting the brakes hard. Hard braking can cause your car to slide on the wet road and cause a collision. 8. Avoid Outside Lanes There are more water and big puddles in the outside lanes. Drive in the middle lane where possible to avoid running or standing water. 9. Keep Proper Space from Large Vehicles If there is a truck or a bus in front of you, keep generous space in between you and the other vehicle. The large tires can cause more water to hit your windshield and make it difficult for you to see. 10. If You Can't See Pull Over If it's raining hard and you find it difficult to see, find a safe spot to pull over and wait for the weather to improve. Trying to drive in extreme conditions is extremely dangerous and should be avoided where possible. Be Prepared for Wet Weather and Remember Routine Maintenance If you can, and we know it's not always possible, try to avoid driving in wet, rainy conditions. If possible, be patient and wait until the rains stop before driving. It’s also important to keep your car maintained to ensure parts, like the brakes, tires, and more, can work optimally in inclement weather. Schedule service with DARCARS Lanham Kia, and the certified technicians can perform a complete inspection to ensure that your vehicle performs at its best in wet weather conditions.

Kia models are known to be some of the best-value vehicles you can buy on the market today, but car maintenance is one of the most important things to keep in mind when trying to extend your vehicle's time on the road. Maintenance is more than just an oil change every few months - below are some tips for long-term Kia maintenance. Remember Regular Maintenance It is imperative to look at the maintenance schedule for your Kia to see when it is recommended to get your car’s maintenance completed. There are many moving parts on a vehicle, and they all require servicing to keep your vehicle running smoothly. It is vital that you follow the maintenance guide within your owner's manual to ensure that you are maximizing the life of your vehicle. more Over the course of a year, there are a number of things that you should be getting looked at by a trained mechanic such as: Oil change Transmission fluid Brake fluid and brake pads Tire rotation Tire pressure and tire tread There are many other parts that work to keep your vehicle secure and plenty of fluids to check on, so be sure to stay up to date with your Kia owner's manual. Seek Out Dealership Expertise An easy and convenient way to make sure that your Kia is being properly maintained is to ensure that you are taking it to a certified Kia dealership. There are trained mechanics that are experts on Kia vehicles, and you should use that to your advantage when you are in need of maintenance. No one knows more about Kia vehicles than a Kia dealership! It is a very simple process scheduling regular vehicle maintenance through a Kia dealership because they keep track of all of the prior maintenance that has been done to the vehicle, any special repairs or replacements, and the proper mileage for future repairs. There is no better way to get the most out of your vehicle than to make sure that the right people are servicing your Kia. Don't Ignore Warning Signs If you get into your car and have issues trying to get the engine to start, there may be bigger issues at hand. If you have service lights lit up on your dashboard, such as the check engine light or the tire pressure light, do not ignore these signs. The best thing for the long-term life of your vehicle is to make sure you fix the smaller problems before they turn into bigger problems. When fixing a small problem such as low tire pressure by inflating the tire to the correct PSI, you avoid the possibility of a tire blowout, which could result in a costly repair, as well as cause extensive damage to the vehicle and can lower your car's life expectancy. Need Kia Maintenance in Lanham, MD? At the end of the day, everyone is trying to get the most out of their vehicle. Proper maintenance and professional service for your Kia will keep it on the road for as long as possible and keep you safe. Schedule Kia maintenance and repairs at DARCARS Lanham Kia today!