Motoring corner:“Driving Safe in the Rainy Season”

It is once again, this time of the year that we experience the onset of the rains. Though they may be a blessing, they could as well be a hazard to some people especially the drivers. No matter what kind or surface of the road you will be driving on, the rains could impact on you in one way or the other. Driving in the rain can be deadly because ones visibility is reduced and there are usually hazardous and slippery conditions on the road. Therefore, one should take precautions to ensure they reach their destination safely. It is important to always keep in mind that safe driving starts immediately one pulls out of the parking spot, be it at home, at work or in town. If one wants to drive safely in the rain, they should have window cleaners, car manuals, emergency flares, wiper blades, washer fluids and hazard triangles used for road emergencies. Prior to starting the journey one should ensure their windows and windshields are clean on the outside and the inside. One should then check their headlights, brake lights, indicators and tail lights. The cars motor for the windshield wiper should also be checked for proper functioning and so should the wiper blades. Whenever rain starts dropping one should turn their headlights on along with their wipers. The lights should be on during the day and at night as well. It is also advisable to reduce your speed during this time. One should also not drive too close to other cars; there are usually poor driving conditions at this time. When it is raining too hard and one cannot be able to see other vehicles or the end of their road, it is highly advisable to park clearly off the road and wait for improvement in visibility. The places that one can go for a stopover are at restaurants, road side malls and rest areas. When driving, one should not remove their hands from the steering wheel at any time. They should also keep all forms of distractions like radios and cell phones away. One should also ensure that the highest speed they use is related to their tires directly. The condition of the car also matters. When it comes to traction, radial tires are the best compared to the polyester ones. Skidding during the rainy season often causes drivers to get into accidents. Skidding occurs when a persons vehicle travels on water with little or no contact with the ground. This reduces ones traction significantly. If one wants to get out of this situation they should let the gas off and steer straight towards the place they should go. One should also remain calm and not make sudden motions. It is also advisable for the driver to avoid using flooded roads.One should never drive through flowing or standing water unless they are sure of the depth of the water. Deep water has the ability of taking cars of the road and can also flood ones engine which can cause it to stall. As soon as the windshield starts to fog one should turn the defroster on. One should also know that water can affect their brakes and this especially applies to the Wet drum kind. Drivers should also watch out for splashing as they come to pools and potholes that contain water that has accumulated at drain pipes that have clogged. There are usually ruts on potholes as well where the traffic is heaviest and one may have the ability to position their vehicle while still in their lane in order to avoid them. Remember, better late than never! Maintain low speeds so that you get to your destination in one piece rather than ending up in a quagmire! motoringcorner@live.co.uk

Lifestyle

Motoring corner:“Driving Safe in the Rainy Season”