10 SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVING IN THE RAIN

driving in the rain

Diving into the flashback of the early days of our childhood, we recall the days when we all loved playing in the rain but now we have to do driving in rain too. Jumping into the deep puddles and ditches had been our regular habit during the monsoons. 

Moving forward a few decades, today, I’m driving in rain a car through the similar ditches that are on the way to my workplace. The habit that I had developed in those days exists no more within me. 

Today, I keep thinking of how I can get out of the rain during the monsoon days. 

I hope you know while driving in rain through the zigzag ditches on the roads is one of the most daunting tasks during the monsoons. 

You have risks and dangers while driving on the wet & slick roads during the monsoons.  

You might be thinking of avoiding driving until the rain stops; right? 

But what if there is an emergency to take someone to the hospital driving on your own? 

Well, keep going through this blog to its end. Here, I’ve listed down some of the best safety tips for driving in the rain. I’m sure these tips will help you enjoy a safe drive during the monsoons. 

1. Always Prefer Waiting Over Driving Rain can be risky for every driver, professional or a novice.

 If you ever witnessed a vehicle skid on the road during the monsoons, I’ am sure you never imagine yourself driving in the monsoons. 

Let me tell you the fact that you lose control of the vehicles during the rainfalls.

 If you don’t have an emergency to drive during heavy rainfall. Then it’s better to wait for the rain to stop. Because getting 15 minutes late is much better than ending up in the hospital bed. 

2. Check Well If Your Car Is Working Properly Before You Head-On 

It’s very much important for you to double-check everything in your car before you head-on during monsoon.  

The next thing is to know about your car headlights. Make sure both of them have no leakage in the plastic and also are free from electrical issues. 

Finally, check all the equipment that you might need during your drive. At the same time, look at the treads of your tires to take on the slick and slippery roads of the monsoon falls. 

Also, make sure to check the windshield wipers, tail-lights, fog-lights, turn signals/indicators, AC, and more importantly, the horns. 

Once, you assure all of these to be in good working condition, you’re ready to enjoy the time-out in the monsoon falls. 

3. Make Sure You Drive Slower Than You Usually Do 

During the heavy showers, most of the cities reduce the speed limit. This helps the driver safe for avoiding any unwanted accidents and incidents. 

it’s very much important for your car to be able to adjust to the lower traction. It takes a bit longer for your car to react to breaking and/or turning during wet conditions. 

Also, the experts advise that the speed should be as much lower as possible when the roads are generally wet and slippery. 

4. Keep the Headlights On  

If you’ve ever traveled in any four-wheels it’s almost impossible to see the things that are just a few meters ahead of your car. 

Can you guess why it happens so? 

Well, it’s all because of the mist and fog that accompany the heavy showers. So it is harder for the drivers to see anything ahead of their cars. so Keep on the headlight on for more clarity to see.

 Let me tell you that keeping the headlights doesn’t only give you better visibility to the drivers. It also informs the vehicles and the pedestrians around your presence. 

After all, most of the accidents while driving in rain are due to the lack of proper visibility, negligence of not using the headlights, and fog lights properly. 

5. Turn On the Windshield Wipers for an Improved Visibility 

In the above paragraph, I just discussed how important the visibility of the outside of the car when driving in the rain.

 Can you just guess what do these words mean? 

Well, most people simply understand using the windshield wipers of the car effectively during heavy showers. But actually, that’s a bit wrong.

Let me tell you that when the rain continues to flow onto the windshield of the car, it distorts the driver’s view. The windshield wipers of the car help removing the excess moisture from the glass for perfect visibility. 

Let me tell you that most modern cars are equipped with multiple speed options for different rain conditions that range from a drizzle to a heavy shower. 

Do you live in a region that experiences a lot of hail or ice more often? 

If yes, I’m sure you’re always experiencing visibility problems while driving; right? 

Well, in such conditions, I better recommend you using a cleaning product in the wiper-fluid. 

It’s just because doing so will help keep the windshield free from the frost. 

6. Maintain Distance 

During the rains, it takes time for your car to react, slow down and then stop. Moreover, the wet roads cause the tires of your car to skid or slip before stopping. This is the reason why you have to take care of the distance between yours and the other vehicles around you. 

Do you have any idea about what would be the best idea to make sure you have enough time to stop? 

Well, Simply make sure that you maintain at least a 2-car space between you and the vehicle in front of you to avoid colliding. 

7. Go Easy On the Brakes

When driving on wet roads, it’s really hard to overcome this difficult especially when you drive faster on wet roads. So, the brakes should be normally pressed.

Let me tell you that it’s quite dangerous to drive a car on a wet road. This is because it takes time for the car to react on wet roads. 

 If you want to slow and stop your car release your foot off the accelerator and then push down the brakes gently. 

In case if you jam down your foot on the brake pedal, you’ll more likely get the car skid and thereby lose control over the car in an instant. 

8. Avoid Puddles 

One of the most common causes of most of the accidents on the roads is hydroplaning. 

Got confused about what hydroplaning is? 

Hydroplaning means when a car skids because of a film of water that is caught between the tires and the road preventing it from decreasing its speed or coming to a halt. 

When driving in such conditions, it’s best to slow down before you drive through the puddles.

9. Go Easy On the Brakes

What would you do if your car is hydroplaning during a rain shower? 

You would get worried and panic; right? 

It’s because you get nervous, and more chances that you’re gonna lose control of the car. 

The next that you need to do in such a situation is take your foot off the accelerator pedal

You might be wondering why you need to do so; right? 

Well, doing so would help you slow the car down. 

Then, simply steer your car in the direction that you’d want to go. This will help the wheels to break out of hydroplaning. 

Here, one thing to remember in such a situation is that you shouldn’t ever slam the brakes or make any sharp and sudden turns. It will cause the car to skid even more. 

10. Turn-On the Air-Conditioner of the Car

Most of the city experiences humidity and rain. And this humidity also brings fog with it. 

I hope you know the fact that fog time is hard to drive a car.

 Let me tell you the causes of cars fog-up. And, its temperature inside the car and outside of the car. 

Do you have any idea to prevent your car from fogging up? 

Well, that’s very simple. 

It is simply turn on the AC and then set the temperature to the level that matches the temperature outside the car. 

 If this does not work, pull the cover of your car to the side of the road and then ventilate it by opening a window or two. 

For your information, let me tell you to keep a towel or a cloth to wipe the windshield whenever it gets fogged up but that’s not a permanent solution. 

Now you have explored all the safety tips for driving in the rain, I’m sure you’d love to share this information with your friends and relatives. If you ever face any problems described in this blog, feel free to visit MSA 24/7 TOWING LTD. Very soon, their staff will be available to help you out.