To amplify Ernest_at_the_Beach’s point:
A tenth of an inch is enough to raise all the oils and slick dust on the freeways to the surface, but not enough to rinse them clean.
The first light rain of the season is much more dangerous than a good rain.
It's been raining in SoCal for a couple of weeks now. It safe to drive normally in the rain, but people are still too scared of water.