Safe Driving In Wet Weather Conditions

Driving in the rain or when the roads are wet makes driving more dangerous. This is increased danger is not just a case of increased stopping distances which will be at least twice as much as when driving in the dry, other factors also come into play.

In the rain the vision of drivers and other road users will be reduced. Falling rain can obscure the view through windows, even with the wipers turned on. Windows are also more likely to mist up. To help ease this problem keep your windows clean and free of grease and grime. Your windscreen washer reservoir should be kept full and contain a good windscreen washer fluid. To de-mist your windscreen turn on your heater fan making sure you have it on the correct setting.

Your windscreen wipers should be checked on a regular basis. Wipers after a year or so become worn and lose their ability to clear water from your windscreen. Ineffective wipers will drastically impair your ability to see through your windscreen.

In wet weather conditions when other traffic is on the road you also need to be aware of spray. This is water send up as tyres run over it on the road. All vehicles can cause spray buy look out for heavy vehicles in particular. Spray is especially dangerous once the rain has actually stopped. In this situation you are likely to to have turned off your wipers. You then pass a vehicle which sprays water on to your windscreen blocking your view and forcing you to quickly turn your wipers on. To help avoid spray keep well back from vehicles in front. If you see a large vehicle approaching the turn your wipers on to full speed just in case it sprays you.

With water on the road there is always a danger of aquaplaning. This is when tyres surf on the water and lose all grip. You will know you are aquaplaning when your steering suddenly starts to feel too light. This is due to the fact the tyres have no grip with the road. If this does happen to you do not panic and step on the brake pedal. Do not even try and steer. If you do you run the risk of losing control of your vehicle. The correct procedure is to remove your foot from the accelerator. As you slow the tyres should connect with the road giving you back grip and control. Water on the road is not the sole cause of aquaplaning, speed is also a crucial factor. The more speed the greater the chance of aquaplaning. So when there is standing water on the road reduce your speed.

Puddles at the side of the road can also be dangerous. When driving through them the drag of the water on your wheels can pull the steering. If you fail to adjust your steering quickly enough this can cause you to swerve.

Britain seems to increasingly be the victim of flooding. With our miles of country roads and often uneven road surface on occasion you will find yourself confronted by a pool of water blocking your way. The question should you drive through it depends on how deep it is. If water blocks your exhaust, and if it enters the engine air intake the serious damage is likely to be caused. If you decide to drive on then drive slowly. If you drive at speed you will cause a wave which will rise up and increases the chance of flooding the engine. Use first gear and keep the revs high by dipping the clutch as this will help prevent water coming into the exhaust. Once through the water apply the brakes a few times as this will help dry them.

In conclusion wet roads are more dangerous roads. They are more slippery and produce more hazard and increased stopping distances than dry roads. The safest thing to do is to slow down and avoid potentially dangerous manoeuvres such as overtaking.