Drivers advised to check vehicles prior to the upcoming week of wet weather

Drivers have been advised to check their vehicles prior to what looks to be a wet week ahead.

Recently there have been many accidents, in part, because of under maintained vehicles. Some drivers have gone off the road due to speed and erractic driving after rain has fallen.

Several accidents have been reported on Highway 101 at Gaviota. Others in the Goleta Valley including the Los Carneros on ramp to the southbound lanes of the freeway where two SUV’s have gone over the side in recent weeks.

California Highway Patrol officer Michael Sims says drivers need to check their tires, wipers, brakes and other safety gear or they could be facing some unexpected consequences in the wet weather or during emergency maneuvers.

“Give yourself enough room to stop safely. Your stopping distance is going to increase with the wet roadway conditions,” said Sims at the scene of an accident. “With the rain it causes the road to start to come apart and it causes potholes and then water will gather in.”

Earlier this week a pothole in the Carpinteria area was believed to have disabled two vehicles.