“Driving in the Rain”

RAIN is many drivers’ nightmare; many of us with that wish it never rains when we are to set out on the road. It is a good idea to slow down and allow extra time to get to your destination; as they say, “better late than never”! There are awful lots of problems on the roads that come as a result of rains. Rain is blamed for thousands of accidents yearly. Many of these accidents are preventable, but are caused by intrepid drivers who don’t realize that fair- and foul-weather driving is fundamentally different. When the road is wet, the film of the water on the asphalt causes tyres to lose traction. Less obvious is the fact that rain reduces driver perception it’s harder to see through the rain and also decreases visibility through its action on headlights, windshields and the road itself. While most people know to slow down in the rain, there are definitely other tips that will help keep you, and those who share the road with you, from becoming a statistic.Exercise extreme caution after a long dry spell. During a dry period, engine oil and grease build up on the road over time. When mixed with water from a new rainfall, the road becomes extremely slick. Continued rainfall will eventually wash away the oil, but the first few hours can be the most dangerous. Allow for more travel time. You should plan to drive at a slower pace than normal when the roads are wet. Keep in mind that traffic is likely to be moving slower as well. There’s also the possibility that your pre-planned route may be flooded or jammed. Whatever the case, rushing equals higher risk. Brake earlier and with less force than you would normally. Not only does this increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also lets the driver behind you know that you’re slowing down. Also, be more meticulous about using turn signals, so that other drivers know your intentions, and take turns and curves with less speed than you would in dry conditions. Most of the roads are crowned in the middle, which means that the water will run off to the sides. If possible, stay toward the middle of the road to avoid deep standing puddles. If you have gadgets like cruise control, please don’t use them. If you do so, there’s the chance your car could actually accelerate. Cruise control also allows drivers to be less vigilant and to take their foot away from the pedals, it is not a great idea when reaction time is so important. If you see a large puddle up ahead, drive around it or choose a different route. It could be that it’s covering a huge gaping maw into the front door of hell. Well, maybe not, but water splashing up into your car’s engine compartment could damage its internal electrical systems. Also, a pothole may be hiding under the water, just waiting in ambush to damage a wheel or knock your suspension out of alignment. If you can’t gauge the depth, or if it’s covering up the side curb, try to avoid it. Do not attempt to cross running water, because you might probably get into a lot of trouble if the force of the water is greater than the weight of your vehicle. All-wheel drive isn’t going to be much help if your vehicle is being pushed sideways. After you cross a puddle, tap on your brake pedal lightly to dry off some of the water on your rotors. Turn on your headlights, even when there’s a light sprinkle. It helps you see the road, and more importantly, it helps other motorists see you. However, don’t blast your high beams in the rain or fog because they might obscure your view further, as the light will reflect back at you off the water droplets in the air. If your car is equipped with fog lights, you may find it helpful to turn these on, as they throw a little extra light on the road while making your car easier to see. Watch out for pedestrians. An ordinarily observant pedestrian may become distracted by fiddling with an umbrella or a rain slicker. Plus, raindrops deaden sound, so the usual audio clues for measuring car distances become obscured. Keep a sharp lookout for people in the road. If it’s raining so hard that you can’t see the road or the car in front of you, pull over and wait it out. Track the car ahead of you. Let the car ahead pave a clear path, so to speak, through the water. (To be continued).

Lifestyle

“Driving in the Rain”