Driving in the rain is a whole other ballgame compared to driving under normal conditions. Get to your destination in one piece by following our top rainy-driving tips.
Compared to our brethren in the northern hemisphere, South African drivers actually have it really easy. Our climate isn’t conducive to creating ice layers on the road, and snow is such a novelty that we sometimes drive hundreds of kilometres just to let the children play in the fluffy stuff. But we do have to contend with rain (in those areas which aren’t stricken with crippling droughts, at least), and this seems to bring out our worst driving habits all the same. Fortunately, there are ways to increase your own safety, and that of others, when driving in the rain. Here are some of those survival strategies.
If you can’t see, you can’t drive
As the first drops hit your windscreen, your visibility takes a nosedive. Yes, you have wipers to clear the screen, but during those intervals between wipes, you can’t really see what’s happening ahead of you. Road spray compounds this hazard – not only will the rain blur your vision, but the mist (and sometimes sheets of water) thrown up by other road users will leave you blinded every so often.
Apart from setting the wipers to a higher speed, there isn’t a lot you can do about that. The only way to manage this problem is to reduce your speed and increase your following distance until the wipers can keep the screen at least partially clear 95% of the time. Reducing your speed will shorten the distance you’ll cover while driving “blind”, and you’ll have more time to react to hazards when you eventually see them.
It’s about being seen as well
When the rain starts falling, turn on your car’s headlights. Not the parking lights, and NOT the fog lights – especially not the rear fog lights. Only use fog lights in dense mist or fog, as their light emissions create a massively distracting blur for the car behind you. This blur will make it more difficult to discern when your brake lights illuminate, leading to an increased risk of the following driver running into your car.
Headlights should be switched on, not really to enable you to see the road (unless it’s dark, of course), but rather to make sure that oncoming drivers will be able to see you approaching. Your aim should be to make yourself as visible as possible in a low-visibility situation, and lights are brilliant at that job.
Avoid skidding
This might seem like an obvious point, yet many drivers are apparently unaware that rain increases the risk of skidding. It’s all because of physics: rain makes the road surface more slippery, meaning that the tyres’ grip on the road is reduced. On a slippery surface, sudden braking, acceleration and direction changes may initiate a skid, which is just one small step away from a total loss of control.
Make smooth braking- and steering inputs, don’t try to accelerate at full power, and always be on the lookout for deep puddles (which could cause the tyres to lose their grip). Don’t try to emulate Ken Block on this slippery surface either – rather go to a skidpan if you feel the urge to hone your drifting skills, as the road isn’t the place for such antics. Also try to avoid driving through large puddles of water, as they often conceal equally-large potholes, which may damage your tyres, wheels, and suspension.
Keep your distance
In slippery conditions, following distances take on added importance. Due to the grip reduction between your car’s tyres and the road, it will take longer to slow down, even if it is equipped with ABS brakes. You need to allow for this fact in your driving, and one of the best ways to compensate is by increasing your following distance.
Increased following distance has another bonus in the rain: it takes your car further away from the road spray created by the car in front of you, which improves visibility and boosts your safety. And, if the driver behind you drives too close to you, the added space ahead of you will give you some manoeuvring space if you have to slow down unexpectedly.
Be mindful of other drivers
Just because you’re extra careful in the wet doesn’t mean that the drivers around you will be the same. Be aware that some might squeeze into your newly-increased following distance, or turn into your lane from a side street, or pull out of a parking bay without looking or intoolating. Remember, your car will be less agile and more prone to skidding on a slippery surface, so you’ll need to pay extra attention to potential hazards.
While there isn’t much you can do about mitigating the incompetence of other road users, at the very least you can improve your own chances of dealing with the hazards involved in driving in the rain. Remember that nobody else will take responsibility for your safety on the road, so you need to do everything in your power to safeguard yourself and your passengers. Treating rain and slippery roads with respect is a good first step in this direction.
Keyword: How to drive safely in the rain