A Little Rain Can Put Traffic on the Skids

Consider the scattered showers over Orange County on Wednesday a warning.

Streets and freeways, coated with months’ worth of oil and grease, are always extra slippery with the first rains, and Wednesday’s weak storm probably did little to rinse the accumulation away, California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Angel Johnson said. And more light rains are expected by tonight or early Friday.

To prepare, Johnson said, drivers should make sure that their cars, including tires, wipers, batteries and exhaust systems, are in good condition.

“This little rainstorm was just a warning for us,” she said.

Dean Jones, a meteorologist with WeatherData, which provides forecasts for The Times, said the storm, which scattered less than .10 of an inch of rain in most parts of the county, “squeezed just enough to cause a few problems here and there.”

Although some drivers experienced trouble on the slick highways, apparently none of it was serious.

“But traffic was heavy because everyone did the right thing and slowed down,” Johnson said. “We got lucky because it was light rain.”

Drivers on other Southland highways however, weren’t as lucky.

A mere .04 inch of rain was recorded in Los Angeles, but that was enough to loosen a six-month accumulation of oil and grease and make freeways as slick as ice, CHP officials said. The CHP tallied 261 accidents in Los Angeles County from 5:30 to 9 a.m., compared with a normal 80 to 90 in that period.

Fire officials, however, welcomed the rain, although they warned that the brush fire danger remains high.

In Orange County, the rainfall ranged from a trace in Santa Ana to .08 inch in Dana Point and .12 inch in Silverado Canyon and other inland spots. The average amount of rainfall by this time in the season that starts July 1 is about half an inch, Jones said.

The local rainfall numbers could soon increase, as another weak system is expected by late tonight or early Friday, followed by a heavier, colder front from the Pacific Northwest over the weekend, Jones said.

Times staff writer Bob Pool contributed to this story.

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Safe Passage

Light rains can be as hazardous to drivers as heavily flooded roads, especially on Orange County’s oil-slick freeways. Experts offer the following safety tips for rainy-day driving:

* Skidding: Gently steer in the direction of the skid while lightly tapping the brake. Never turn too quickly or brake hard, as this can cause or aggravate a skid. To recover:

1. Release the brake to unlock wheels.

2. Straighten front wheels, then turn in the direction you want to go.

3. Gradually slow the vehicle until control is regained.

* Wet roads: In heavy rain, or on oily road portions, tires can lose contact with asphalt, a condition called “hydroplaning.” Should this happen, slowly apply the brakes until you feel tires grasping the roadway.

* No tailgating: Stay far enough back to see light beneath the car in front of you; keep space on all sides to brake or maneuver as needed.

* Blind spots: Accelerate or slow so other drivers can spot you in rear-view mirrors.

* Wet brakes: Dry them by simultaneously the pressing gas and brake pedals. Do this only until the brakes begin working.

Source: Times reports