You may feel like you’re getting the hang of driving your vehicle in pleasant sunny conditions. But once the weather takes a wet turn, you may find it difficult to maintain a good grip on your car.
After all, when starting the ignition, it’s easy to gloss over the fact that you’re operating a thousand-plus-pound machine. When it’s wet out, the car responds differently: braking takes longer, steering feels less precise, and even a thin layer of rain can make surfaces surprisingly slippery. Even light rain can make it difficult to drive on otherwise familiar roads.
If you want to stay safe while driving your vehicle on wet roads, then you’re in the right place. Here are some expert-approved techniques and tips to help ensure your safety and boost your confidence while behind the wheel on a rainy day.
Let’s jump right into it.
1. Ensure Your Tyres Are Road-Ready
When it comes to driving safely in the rain, it’s important to pay attention to your car’s tyres. The tyres are the sole vehicular component that comes into contact with the road.
If it’s of subpar quality or starting to break apart, this could cause problems and put you and your passengers at risk. For instance, if your tyre treads are worn down, your vehicle may have a difficult time gripping onto a wet road. This could increase the likelihood of the car skidding or hydroplaning.
As this is the case, it’s essential to inspect your car’s tyres regularly. Look at the grooves and ensure that the tyres have an adequate tread depth. The treads and grooves are responsible for channeling water away from the tyres, allowing the car to be controlled more easily.
A tread depth of 1.6 mm is considered the legal minimum for operational vehicles. New tyres often start at a tread depth of about 10 to 12 mm. That said, about 3 millimetres is considered okay, but the deeper, the better.
You can also make observations when driving to see if your tyres aren’t holding up as they should. A loud engine, lighter steering, or an uneven backend could be potential markers of trouble in the future. By paying attention to these things and fixing your tyres, you can make your vehicle more ready to take on the road during rainy conditions.
2. Slow Down and Space Yourself in Traffic
If you’re in a congested road in slippery conditions, then you should strive to drive as safely and as defensibly as possible. Slow down more often than you speed up, and put a healthy gap between you and the vehicle in front of you. Slowing down allows your vehicle to have enough space to stop, which is crucial as the surface of the road is less grippy when wet.
Making sharp brakes in a wet road can cause your vehicle to skid uncontrollably. This is a major driving risk and not something you’d want to experience. You could end up hitting the car in front of you or hitting the side of the road, which can be a costly and potentially dangerous experience.
As this is the case, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Give yourself enough space, say, double the usual safety distance of about two cars, between the vehicle in front of you and your own car. This way, if the vehicle stops suddenly, you and your vehicle will have ample time to react in the event that your car’s tyres aren’t at their best and most stable shape.
3. Turn On Your Headlights and Keep Visibility Clear
Another essential tip you must follow when driving in rainy conditions is ensuring that you have a clear vision of the road ahead of you.
Rain doesn’t only bring about wet roads, but it also covers the sun and makes it hard to contrast the scene before you. This is especially the case in the mid-morning and late-afternoon hours where the sun is not high in the sky just yet.
You don’t have to turn on your high beam, a low beam light can do just the trick to keep you from facing difficulty while driving. Moreover, using a high beam can be detrimental as the bright light can reflect off the wet surface, making it even harder for you to see what’s on the road.
That being said, you should also use your wipers and top up your washer fluid regularly. This way, your windshield won’t be completely fogged up or leave behind streaks. When you turn on your lights and keep your windshield tidy, you’ll have a much easier time reacting to the road conditions without endangering yourself.
4. Avoid Sudden Braking, Steering, or Acceleration
On wet roads, it’s safest to drive smoothly and predictably. If you make any sharp movements like brakes or wheel jerks, you could overwork your tyres and potentially send your car skidding.
As this is the case, aim to be gentle when getting your car to brake, turn, or go faster. Ease into the movement and make sure that everything is done in a controlled fashion. When you are calm with the controls, your car will stay stable. This, in turn, makes you less prone to accidents during rainy conditions.
5. Watch Out for Standing Water
If you’re driving in an unfamiliar location, then don’t drive your car on top of that large puddle in the middle of the road. If you hit these wet spots at speed, your car could lose control. Steering and braking may suddenly feel useless, and you could end up in an accident at the end of it.
To avoid this, be extra vigilant when scanning the road. If you see a pooled section approaching, then slow down gently and try to steer over it. If it’s too late to safely steer it, then gently brake and let your car glide over the water hole.
By staying alert, you can avoid potential accidents involving your car and standing water. So be sure to always stay alert while driving on wet roads, especially if it’s been raining hard.
We hope these tips can help assure your safety while driving on wet roads. Safe driving!
Written By
Matt Banks
Matt is the founder of Autohero.com.au and has been hooked on cars ever since childhood.
A veteran in automotive since leaving school, Matt has completed his trade as a panel beater and is across all things with wheels.
His first car was a 1967 FORD XR Wagon followed by a string of collectable Holden’s.
Have a question for Matt? leave a comment below.