It is incomparably safer today to drive a car than it was decades ago, but rain is still an enemy you must never underestimate. In wet conditions, tyre grip is greatly affected, while pools of water on the road can lead to aquaplaning – a frightening situation in which tyres fail to contact the asphalt due to a build-up of water. Fallen leaves form a slippery mass on the road during the autumn months when the weather tends to be wet and cold.
Rainy weather driving tips: eight ways to stay safe / Taking it easy is the first step
Taking it easy is the first step
You should steer, throttle, and brake more gently than usual in wet conditions. Most new cars are fitted with electronic stability programmes (ESP), which detect and reduce skidding. Despite what many people think, this should not be turned off in wet conditions. It’s best to use higher gears if your car doesn’t have ESP, since your wheels will be less likely to skid if you’re travelling at a high speed.
Make sure visibility is good
The rain not only reduces grip, but it also affects visibility. The wipers on your windshield need to be working properly to handle both rain and spray thrown up by other cars as you navigate soaked roads, especially those that don’t drain properly. It is also possible to direct air to the windscreen to clear it faster with in-car climate controls to reduce the risk of fogging up.
Pay attention to road signs when driving
It’s always important to acknowledge road signs but in the wet it becomes all the more important, enabling you to react in good time by adjusting your speed and keeping you out of trouble. Be especially vigilant at road signs warning of slippery surfaces as well as signs warning of humps and underpasses.
Stay out of deep water
You should be extra cautious when driving through puddles that are difficult to judge in depth. They may conceal potholes that can damage your tyres, rims, suspension, or even cause you to lose control. Deep puddles are best avoided, but if you cannot steer around them safely, drive through them slowly. Flooding is also a risk. The main problem with driving through deep water is inadvertently drawing water into the engine or getting the electrical system wet.
Be cautious when driving
Driving in the wet requires a more cautious approach – moderating speed, avoiding distractions, and keeping both hands firmly on the steering wheel. Additionally, you should allow around five seconds’ braking distance between your car and the car in front. This will allow you plenty of time to react without resorting to excessively sudden movements.
Keep an eye out for foam
Even the first drops of rain can cause problems, such as viscoplaning: when tyres lose grip on even a thin layer of water. As rain mixes with dirt and oil deposited on the road, a slimy emulsion appears as foam emerging from the asphalt, which is particularly slimy.
Be careful when steering
Wet conditions still pose a risk of oversteering or understeering, but most dangerous situations can be avoided with caution and moderate speed. The correct response is to lighten the throttle and straighten the steering wheel slightly until the wheels regain the right course. Our instincts may lead us to accentuate steering. But this makes the situation worse.
Aquaplaning: how to avoid it
Aquaplaning can occur at just 50 km/h. Dips in the road surface are not the only cause. Water is not expelled quickly enough through the tyre tread, so the car “floats” and loses direction. Incorrect tyre pressure and progressive tyre wear can also contribute. It is best to keep calm in order to avoid aquaplaning. Release the throttle, grip the steering wheel elliptically, and lightly touch the brakes if necessary. This will transfer the load to the front axle and restore steering control sooner. Last but not least, even the most sophisticated safety systems could take a long time to react in such a situation, so the driver should intervene quickly, decisively, but delicately.