The raining season is here again and here are some few rain driving tips.
Please read and share, you might be saving a life by doing so. These tips
will keep you and your passengers safe on wet roads.
- Routinely check your tires…
Always check your tires before you hit the road. Make sure
you do the following routine maintenance:
Keep your tires properly inflated. The correct air pressure
for your tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and can be found on the
vehicle door edge, door-post, and glove box door or fuel door. It is also
listed in the owner's manual. The number listed on the side of the tire is not
the recommended air pressure for your tire – it is the maximum air pressure for
the tire. You should check your tire's air pressure at least once a month.
Check the tires tread depth. Proper tread depth will help
prevent skids and aquaplaning.
As rain falls, it mixes with grime and oil on the road
creating slick conditions perfect for skids. The best way to avoid skidding is
to slow down. Driving at a slower pace allows more of the tire's tread to make
contact with the road, which leads to better traction.
- Know how to recover from a skid.
Skids can happen even to the most cautious drivers. If your
car does skid, remember not to slam on the brakes. Do not pump the brakes if
you have an anti-lock braking system (ABS). Instead, apply firm, steady
pressure to the brakes and steer the car in the direction of the skid.
- Keep your distance
from the car ahead.
Wet-weather driving demands gentle use of all the main
controls – steering, clutch, brake and accelerator – and a larger allowance for
errors and emergencies. When you begin a journey in rain, your shoes will be
wet and can easily slip off the pedals. Scuff the soles on the rubber matting
or carpeting of the car before you start the engine. All motorists should
regularly check that their headlights, rear lights, brake lights and turn
indicators are working properly. It takes about three times longer to break on
wet roads than on dry roads. Since more distance is required to brake, it is
important not to tailgate. Keep a little more than two car lengths between you
and the vehicle in front of you.
- Drive in the tracks of a car ahead of you.
Avoid using your brakes. Whenever possible, slow down by
taking your foot off the accelerator.Turn your headlights on, even in a light
rain. Not only do they help you see the road, but they'll help other drivers
see you. If your car has daytime running lights, you should turn them on, so
vehicles behind you can see you better.
- Prepare for your journey.
Wet-weather driving demands gentle use of all the main
controls – steering, clutch, brake and accelerator – and a larger allowance for
errors and emergencies. When you begin a journey in rain, your shoes will be
wet and liable to slip off the pedals. Scuff the soles on the rubber matting or
carpeting of the car before you start the engine. All motorists should
regularly check that their headlights, rear lights, brake lights and turn
indicators are working properly.
- Learn how to avoid and deal with aquaplaning.
Aquaplaning happens when the water in front of your tires
builds up faster than your car's weight can push it out of the way. The water
pressure causes your car to rise up and slide on a thin layer of water between
your tires and the road. At this point, your car can be completely out of
contact with the road, and you are in danger of skidding or drifting out of
your lane, or even off the road. To avoid aquaplaning, keep your tires properly
inflated, ensure that the tread non skid is above the legal limits on your
tires and replace them when necessary, slow down when roads are wet, and stay
away from puddles. Try to drive in the tire tracks left by the cars in front of
you. If you find yourself Aquaplaning, do not brake or turn suddenly. This
could throw your car into a skid. Ease your foot off the accelerator until the
car slows and you can feel the road again. If you need to brake, do so gently
with light pumping actions. If your car has ABS, then brake normally; the car's
computer will mimic a pumping action, when necessary.
- If the rain becomes too heavy, stop!
Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades, allowing an almost
continuous sheet of water to flow over the screen. When visibility is so
limited that the edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe
distance, it is time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best
to stop at rest areas or other protected areas. If the roadside is your only
option, pull off as far as possible and wait until the storm passes. Keep your
headlights on and turn on your hazard warning lights to alert other drivers.
- First rains make the road very slippery.
The first rains always make the roads the most difficult to
drive on, as the mud and oil on the dry road combines with the water and forms
a rather slippery layer. Drivers are likely to experience reduced control, and
are cautioned to be extra careful for the first half-hour after it begins to
rain.
- Cloudy weather
reduces visibility.
Use extra caution when passing other vehicles.
Dry your brakes after driving through standing water.
If you have driven through standing water deep enough to get
your brake shoes wet, apply the brakes lightly to dry them.
- Don't drive while fatigued.
Stop at least every couple of hours or every hundred miles
to rest.
