Driving in the rain can be very risky, especially if you’re a new driver and worked all summer to get your driver’s license. Remember, no driving test occurs in the rain. In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about driving in wet weather conditions, and most of all, staying safe.
Reduce your speed. The first thing you need to do is adapt to the weather conditions. Driving in the rain isn’t the same as driving in dry weather. If it were, I wouldn’t be writing this guide now would I? So, you can’t drive around as fast as you would when it’s dry. You have to adapt, reduce your speed. Drive a little bit slower and you’ll find it much easier to handle the conditions. If you try and zoom around in the rain, that’s when accidents can happen. To keep yourself and other drivers safe, you must reduce your speed.
Brake strategically (i.e. early). When you’re driving, you get used to certain patterns and roads. You know how to take a particular corner and when to put your foot on the brake pedal. But, when it rains, all you patterns go out the window. You can’t take corners the same way that you used to, particularly fast ones. It’s advisable that you brake early whenever you’re approaching a bend. Braking in the rain isn’t as instant as it is on a dry road. Your car is likely to take a split second longer before it stops and slows down. In car terms, that split second can be the difference between life and death. Don’t be reckless, brake early.
Use the right tires. When it rains, the road gets wet. It doesn’t take an expert to figure that out! And, when the road’s wet, guess what happens? Yep, it becomes slippery and harder to drive on. It’s especially hard when you haven’t got tires with enough grip on them. Lack of grip can make it hard for you to feel in control when on the roads, especially if the weather is cold enough to cause ice. Luckily, there are tires out there that are more suitable for rainy conditions than others. Ensure you get tires that work specifically with your vehicle; those with heavy duty vehicles should use the likes of Cepek tires. Whatever brand of tire you choose, make sure they’re well suited for wet weather conditions. Don’t drive around in tires with very little grip.
Use the wipers. It goes without saying that you need to keep your windscreen wipers on when it’s raining. The less obvious part of this is actually making sure they’re working all year round. A lot of people, after having barely had to use their wipers (if at all) throughout summer and autumn get to the rainy wintery months and find that their wipers are no longer working. If you make sure you check and maintain them throughout the year, then there’s less chance of you running into such a problem.
Photo by Ezra Jeffrey
Mia Guerra
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