Motoring corner : “Driving in the Rain”

Now that the wet season is setting in, we need to have some safety tips on how to keep safe on the road. In stormy conditions; it is more difficult to see other vehicles, road signs and the road itself. It is critical to make sure you can see and be seen. First and foremost, slow down! It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather. Maintaining manageable speeds is paramount to survival! Watch out for puddles of water as these could easily wash you off the road or lead you into sorts of skids; you might not like that! It is very important to maintain proper following distance (not less than 5 metres). This needs to be increased in wet weather as the breaking distances tend to increase with wet conditions. Don’t follow large trucks or busses too closely. The spray created by their large tires reduces not only your visibility and vision but also your ability to see ahead of them. Take care when overtaking them as well; and if you must overtake, do so quickly and safely. Be more alert when driving in wet or slippery conditions. Watch out for brake lights in front of you. Try to sport any tail lights as they could be faded brake lights. Do not over use your brakes; instead, take your foot off the accelerator and this slow your vehicle down rather than slamming your foot on the brakes! It is advisable to turn your parking lights or even head headlights on even in a light rain, or in misty or overcast conditions, not only do they help you see the road, but they will help other road users see you. If your car has daytime running lights (as is the norm in the USA and Europe) you still should put them on, so vehicles behind you can see you better. On thing that you should not take for granted are the dry wiper blades, make sure that, after a long dry spell, at the onset of the rains, replace old or brittle wipers. Only if absolutely necessary, try as much as possible to avoid off-road driving; it’s hard to judge the actual depth of pools of water on the muddy roads, you could easily become stuck, even in a modest 4X4. Remember, prevention is better than cure! Always avoid driving beyond the limits of visibility. At night rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue. In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid. The cardinal rule is never to attempt driving through moving water unless you have examined the ground through it and you are certain that the road isn’t washed away; your car could be swept off the road and that could result in you and the occupants of your car getting hurt or even getting drowned! If you must drive through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it’s deeper than the bottom of your doors, then, the wise thing is to reverse and find another route. Deep water can cause serious damage to even the car’s electrical system. Never splash pedestrians with water if you can! It is really bad manners to be inconsiderate of other road users. motoringcorner@live.co.uk

Lifestyle

Motoring corner : “Driving in the Rain”