Click Here to go to main Page!

Safe Driving In The Rain!!!

Safe Driving Tips

Speed

What speed is it safe to drive at in the rain or on wet roads? The answer is that,

under such conditions,tyres grip the road best at about one-third of the speed you would

drive if the road was dry. If you reduce your speed,you reduce the risk of accidents. Slowing

down also saves you from skidding or sliding,the technical name for which is aqua-planing. If

your car aqua-planes it's a nightmare. You are no longer in control of the car and what

happens is up to luck. However,there are some things you can still do

  1. Don't panic.

  2. Don't brake suddenly

  3. Take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.

  4. Grip the steering wheel firmly pointing it in the direction you want to go.

Once your car slows down, the tyres will start to grip the road better again and you'll

feel back in control of the vehicle. At 45 kph the tyres can still grip the road but at 90 kph they

are liable to slide all over the wet road surface or aqua-plane. In the case of rear wheel

drive,if you brake while you are driving at 100 kph in wet conditions, the front wheels may lock

forcing the car into a skid. It is also important to ensure that the car load is balanced.

Also,never drive in heavy rain unless it is absolutely necessary. Your life is more important.

Just stop the car somewhere safe and wait for the rain to subside.

Keeping Distance

You should allow yourself at least 2 seconds reaction time when you are driving

behind a car travelling at 100 kph. How can you be sure? Pick a marker ahead and when the

car in front passes it count "One Thousand and One...One Thousand and Two". If your car

reaches the same point before you have finished counting, then you are too close behind. If

you reach the point after counting "One Thousand and Two", you are the recommended 2

seconds behind. It is wiser to allow a longer distance on wet and slippery roads,say 4

seconds or,better still, 8 seconds. Just keep counting!!!

 

Headlights in poor Visibility

Whenever visibility is poor or it rains, dipped headlights are a good way to let

other drivers know where you are. It's both helpful to other travellers and makes you more

safe. Remember,you are not the only one affected by poor visibility. Every driver is.

Driving Through Floods

Where water has flooded onto the road , drive very slowly. It is better to use

the clutch to keep moving slowly as this will make it more difficult for water to get into the

electrical circuits. It's worth remembering , because if your engine dies in the middle of a

flood, you face a nightmare wait alone.

How to drive in floods

  1. Stop the car before entering the flooded area and check the water level ahead. If it is to high , then consider taking a detour rather than braving the flood and risking not making it through.

  2. When driving in low level floods take a line along the road's turtle back and follow the car ahead if possible so you can see what happens to them.

  3. By all means accelerate,but use the clutch to keep your speed down. If you don't rev the engine enough, it may cut out. On the other hand, going too fast creates waves which may get into your engine. So maintain a balance between slow speed and gunning the engine. If yours is a new car which uses sophisticated technology, it is better to keep it out of floods altogether. Also,diesel engines are more reliable in floods than benzene ones.

How to use your brakes in floods

Drive slowly while keeping your left foot lightly pressed on the brake pedal. This will

help keep the brake lining dry. Allow a longer following distance at least until the brake lining

is completely dry.

WARNINGS!!!

  1. Always check your car works properly, especially the wipers , foot brake, hand brake and tyres.

  2. Don't drive with low air pressure in your tyres in the hope that they will grip the road better.

  3. Always drive carefully,keeping in mind that the higher your speed , the higher the risk of accidents,skidding or other mishaps.

  4. Maintain proper following distances. Be more alert when driving in wet or slippery conditions. Remember:Safety First!!!

  5. Don't overtake in critical driving conditions.

  6. Remember that good braking practices can save you from accidents.

  7. Keep a battery wire handy for automatic cars.

  8. Drive carefully and avoid splashing pedestrians which can have the same consequences as accidents! Being understanding makes for a better society!!!

 

Back to Top