Car: What to watch out for while driving in the rain

The heavy rains in the autumn months create many traps on the road surface and given the prolonged lack of rain in the summer, make for a mixture of bad driving conditions.

The key to achieving absolute safety while driving are the tires, which must be in excellent condition, have a deep tread and soft rubber to be able to respond to the difficult conditions. Old tires with small tread and low elasticity are considered unsafe.

During rain, the best way for a driver to avoid skidding is to slow down. Lower speed means better grip, greater volume of water repellence from the tire and greater reaction time in case of danger.

Braking distance on wet road surface is 3 times longer than on dry road. This means that the driver should keep a greater distance from the vehicle in front.

Due to the rain, the driver’s shoes should have soles so that they do not slip from the pedals, and under no circumstances do we drive in slippers.

All the time driving, the car’s lights must be on, so that its position can be detected from a distance. Also, the windshield wipers, which suffered a lot of damage from the high summer temperatures, should also be in very good condition. They should be changed in case of wear and tear immediately, so as to offer a good view to the driver.

In case of skidding during the rain, the driver should in no case make sudden movements. Gentle braking and gentle movements of the steering wheel will help the situation. The driver should apply steady pressure to the brakes. In case of loss of traction the steering wheel should be turned to the side of the skid.

Hydroplaning occurs when the rate of water accumulation in front of the tires is greater than it can expel. The water pressure causes the vehicle to slide on a thin layer of water created between the tires and the road. It is the point where the car can completely lose contact with the road.

In order to avoid hydroplaning, the driver should have the correct tire pressure, the correct speed and drive avoiding the so-called lakes and accumulated water on the road surface. In this case it is good to drive on the track left by the vehicle in front.

During heavy rain and with very low visibility, the driver can stop off the road in a safe place (it is good to find a parking space) until the extreme events are over. Once the extreme conditions are over, then he can continue, bearing in mind that he will have to be extra careful. In case there is no ideal place to stop, then the headlights should remain on, the driver should park as far as possible and activate the hazard lights (alarm) in order to alert the other drivers in this way.

Finally, we should not forget to regularly check the tires, their pressure and condition. In the event that we find a problem, we immediately proceed to change them.

RES-EMP

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