How To Drive Safely In Rain ?

Heavy rains are the cause of thousands of accidents yearly. Although these are preventable, these are caused by intrepid drivers who don't realize that fair and foul-weather driving are essentially different. Here are some safety tips for driving in the rain. Look out for what makes driving in the rain more dangerous too.

What makes driving in the rain more dangerous?
A wet road makes your tires to lose traction, making skidding more likely, especially when braking

As the visibility decreases, it is harder to see the road ahead.

Headlights appear dimmer

Safety Tips

The firs rule of safe driving in rain is - 'slow down'. It takes longer to stop or adjust in wet weather.

Avoid Skids: To prevent skids, in all sort of rains, drive slowly and carefully. Use steer and brakes with a light touch When you need to stop or slow, do not brake hard or lock the wheels and risk a skid. Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal. Experts suggest that if you find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.

The Cars Headlights : Turn on the car headlights even in the light rain or in gloomy or foggy or overcast conditions. If your car has daytime running lights you still should put them on. This will help the vehicles behind you to see the car better.

Wiper blades : Experts state that the wipers should be changed at least twice a year. However studies have shown that the average motorist changes the wiper blades just once every two or three years. This kind of negligence has caused many fatal accidents. Therefore make sure to change the wiper blades this year, if its old and worn out. Buy wiper blades offered by manufacturers like ANCO, Bosch and Trico. They sell a range of blades for different weather conditions.

Driving at rainy night : at night the roads become even more treacherous, so never drive beyond the limits of visibility. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on your windscreen, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue.

Moving water : Never attempt to drive through the moving water, if you are unable to see the ground through it. This may sweep the car off the road.

Deep water : Deep water causes serious damage to the modern car's electrical system. So, while driving through a puddle of uncertain depth, go slow. If it's deeper than the bottom of the car doors, turn around and find another route. After driving through a puddle, ensure to tap your brake pedal to help dry your brake rotors.

The spray created by the large tires of trucks and buses can reduce your vision. Therefore ensure not to follow them. Maintain a definite distance or overtake them quickly and safely.

A research states that, in monsoon, sudden down-pours in thunderstorms can cause you to lose 50% of your visibility. Water under your tires can cause you to lose braking ability and puddling water, wet leaves and falling tree limbs can drastically reduce your driving space. So make sure to follow the above safety rules.