Drivers met with low visibility, heavy rain as CHP warns of rising crashes

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Heavy downpour across the state is making travel on local highways dangerous.

The California Highway Patrol says speeding in the rain is the cause of most crashes during inclement weather.

Officers and travelers, like Anthony Loverde, are urging drivers to be more cautious.

"Slow down and give people that extra space to switch lights and stuff. Just being respectful for other drivers that are out there," he said.

Anthony is headed home to Albuquerque, New Mexico, from a road trip with his dog, who is recovering from surgery.

Their many stops included the sunny Santa Barbara beach over the weekend, much different than the weather we are seeing this week.

Now, the duo is bracing for the rest of the trip as the winter storm picks up.

"It's hard to see, low visibility, especially passing semi-trucks with, you know, all the splash coming back on the windshield," Loverde says.

Heading south to Disneyland is Bryan Burningham and his family.

He is originally from Merced but currently lives in Utah, where he is used to driving in inclement weather.

However, he says the drive on major California highways, including the Grapevine, is different due to traffic and semi-trucks.

"It sucks to drive in, but it's not bad. Just slow down, take your time and you'll get to your destination eventually. We are just going to take it slow. When we get there, we get there," he said.

Brian says he was going to drive under the speed limit. That is the same message from the California Highway Patrol.

CHP says they can't stress enough that most of these crashes, including the three that have occurred so far today, are caused by drivers traveling too fast for the road conditions.

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