At long last, the rain has come to the Midwest again. While it may be too late for the corn crop, most, if not all, of us in these parts welcome the rain with open arms. It’s been a long, hot, dry summer.

With the return of the rain, it’s also time to adjust our driving a bit. It’s not just that the rain offers less friction on the pavement for braking and control, it’s also the oil that rises to the top of the rain-slicked road.

The rains help to wash away the oils that drip onto the road from passing vehicles. However, with as little rain as we’ve seen this summer, those oils have built up more than usual; the rain will have to work a little harder to wash the oils away. In the meantime, when it does rain, the roads are a little slicker than usual.

With good tires and a little caution, most of us will be fine. In fact, there’s no need to overreact. It’s not as though we speaking of an ice-covered road in midwinter. Inevitably, however, more accidents will occur under rainy conditions than dry. That category on an insurance actuaries chart will see an uptick.

To avoid finding ourselves in that undesirable category, it’s also important that your car’s brakes operate correctly, that your steering and suspension are in good shape and it won’t hurt if all your lights and your wipers are up to speed. These are factors that will help to prepare you when winter does arrive, too.

The law of averages follows us onto the road every time we drive. Fortunately, the odds are low enough that we’re not involved in accidents every other day. Still, with a little caution driving, and proper maintenance of our vehicles, we can reduce the odds even further.

At Performance Unlimited in Ringwood, we wish all of you a safe and happy driving experience. For more information, call Performance Unlimited at 815-728-0343 or visit: www.4performanceunlimited.com.