Wondering how to drive in heavy rain? Driving in the rain can be risky, especially for inexperienced or novice drivers who have just bought a car.
But don’t worry; if you follow these tips, the next time it rains heavily, the experience will be less stressful. Read on to find out!
- Stay alert
Stay alert and stay focused. Pay attention to what’s going on around you when the weather is less than ideal. Be especially cautious when moving from one lane to another. Drivers should drive in a precautionary manner, check the vehicle’s surroundings and blind spots, and take precautions when passing other cars to avoid accidents when taking these actions.
- Increase your visibility by turning on your lights
It is mandatory. All countries require headlights to be on when the weather is unfavorable and visibility is poor. Many also state that when windshield wipers are activated due to weather conditions, headlights must also be on.
- Reduce speed and disengage cruise control.
Wet roads can be the most difficult to drive on. Grease and oil from vehicles form deposits on dry roads, and when it rains, this buildup becomes slippery.
Therefore, an important recommendation for driving in the rain is to drive cautiously and reduce your speed below the speed limit to avoid the risk of slipping on the water. You should also try to put more distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
In addition, cruise control should never be used in the rain. If you start hydroplaning while it is activated, you will go faster. The cruise control function may take a second or two to disengage, allowing you to take control of your vehicle and slow down; however, those seconds can be critical.
- Brake gently and with anticipation
One of the main reasons for accidents that occur during heavy rains is that drivers brake at full speed as if the road were dry. The wet roadway causes the vehicle to slide forward, often into the rear of another vehicle.
Brake gently and early to warn the driver behind you that you are slowing down.
- Drive cautiously at night
Driving at night while it is raining can be very dangerous due to glare from oncoming vehicles, enhanced by rain on the windshield. To reduce glare, you can dim the dashboard lights and avoid looking directly at oncoming headlights, as well as wipe the inside and outside of the windshield.
Be sure to use the ventilation system to remove any mist that may form on the inside of your windows. Taking extra precautions can help alleviate the worry of driving in the rain, making the experience safer for everyone.
- Avoid puddles
Another tip for driving in the rain is to avoid puddles. The splashing that occurs when driving through them, especially if they are huge, can be costly. If water gets into the engine compartment of your vehicle, it can damage internal systems.
Therefore, it is best to drive around large puddles and avoid running water. Once you have passed them safely, press gently on the brake pedal to dry the brake rotors.
- Turn on the air conditioning
Air conditioning is not just for keeping cool on summer days. It can also be useful in bad weather. Keeping it on can prevent the windshield from fogging up.
Visibility is poor enough when it rains, so defogging the windows with the help of the air conditioner can be very useful.
- Keep the hood closed
If you are unlucky enough to have a breakdown on a very rainy day, it is best to avoid opening the hood. Opening it when it’s raining can seriously damage your vehicle’s engine, as the inside of the hood is not designed to withstand prolonged exposure to water.
- Beware of strong winds
Sometimes, with rain comes wind. Be aware of possible unexpected gusts. Always keep a firm grip on the steering wheel when driving in these conditions and try to leave more space for larger vehicles (such as trucks and buses), which may be more vulnerable to strong winds.
So far we have seen 9 tips for driving during heavy rains. With the help of these tips, you will be better prepared to prevent mishaps or accidents. We hope this information has been very useful to you!