subject: Useful Tips for Driving in the Rain [print this page] Useful Tips for Driving in the Rain Useful Tips for Driving in the Rain
Wet weather is often blamed for the thousands of accidents that occur on the roads yearly. Do you know that many of these accidents are in fact preventable? Unfortunately, most drivers are not aware of the fundamental differences of driving in fair weather and driving in bad weather.
The first few hours of rain are often the most dangerous. In dry weather conditions, the roads are covered with a thin layer of oil from car engines. When it rains, water mixes with the oil to create extremely slick and slippery driving conditions. If this isn't bad enough, rainwater on the asphalt causes tires to lose traction. Add a loss of visibility and you're headed for disaster. Thankfully, there are several useful steps, often taught duringdriving lessons that you can take when driving in wet weather to prevent accidents.
Firstly, always make sure your windscreen is clean, both inside and out, and the windscreen wipers are in good working condition. You never know when it might rain so it is always good to be prepared.
As visibility is reduced in wet weather, switch your headlights on, even if you're driving in the day. However, be sure to turn your headlights on to low beam so as not to blind the driver in front of you. Another useful tip is to switch on your air conditioner. This will prevent your windscreen from fogging up.
You should drive at a slower pace during wet weather. Driving slowly allows more of the tire's tread to make contact with the road, providing better traction. Bearing in mind that you will have to drive at a slower pace than normal and that traffic will be moving slower as well, try to leave for your destination earlier, giving yourself extra travel time. Rushing when it's pouring cats and dogs and when the roads are wet is dangerous. Additionally, stopping during wet weather requires a much greater distance, so a good general rule is to drive 10km/h below the speed limit during wet weather.
The rule of thumb when driving in normal conditions is to maintain a distance of 3 seconds from the car in front of you. This distance should increase in wet weather. As the stopping distance required increases when the roads are wet, you will want more room should you need to make a quick stop as vehicle control and traction is reduced. It is also extremely important to stay alert. Always watch out for brake lights in front of you! While it is impossible to refrain from using your brakes completely, it is advisable to use them only when necessary. Instead of stepping on the brakes to slow down, take your foot off the accelerator. If you're driving a manual car, switching to a lower gear earlier or even driving in a lower gear allows for faster stopping. These methods of slowing down are often taught indriving schools.
Last but not least, try to stay on the middle lane, as water tends to collect on either side of the road when it rains. If you stay in the middle lane, the chances of hydroplaning or aquaplaning (where your car loses contact with the road) is reduced. It helps to follow in the tracks of the car in front of you, as it would have paved a clear path through the water.
Now that you are aware of the steps to take when driving in wet weather, you stand a better chance at reaching your destination safely.
