Today, I’d like to give you some tips on how to stay safe while driving on a rainy day. Many people don’t know how to drive safely or cautiously when it comes to heavy downpours of rain. They drive just like they would on a normal day when there is no rain. Driving in rain can be scary, but if you know how to drive safely, then you will feel more at ease. You must remember that when you drive irresponsibly or without caution you can affect other people’s lives.Here are some tips for driving in the rain safely.
1.The first tip that I would like to give to you is to never set your car on cruise control when it is raining. The reason for this is because sometimes cruise control can have a tendency to speed up if the car is bumped in some way. If you were to start hydroplaning and bumping around then your car could actually pick up speed. This of course could cause more problems.If you start to hydroplane, don’t brake suddenly or turn the wheel, or you might spin into a skid. Release the pedal slowly and steer straight until the car regains traction. If you must brake, tap the brake pedal (unless you have antilock brakes, in which case you can put your foot down).
2.Make sure that your wipers are in good condition and functioning properly. If the blades are brittle or damaged, replace them before you’re caught in a downpour. Some wipers are definitely better than others, so ask your retailer for recommendations.
3.Exercise extreme caution after a long dry spell. During a dry period, engine oil and grease build up on the road over time. When mixed with water from a new rainfall, the road becomes extremely slick. Continued rainfall will eventually wash away the oil, but the first few hours can be the most dangerous.
4.Allow for more travel time. You should plan to drive at a slower pace than normal when the roads are wet. Keep in mind that traffic is likely to be moving slower as well. There’s also the possibility that your preplanned route may be flooded or jammed. Whatever the case, rushing equals higher risk.
5.Brake earlier and with less force than you would normally. Not only does this increase the stopping distance between you and the car in front of you, it also lets the driver behind you know that you’re slowing down. Also, be more meticulous about using turn signals, so that other drivers know your intentions, and take turns and curves with less speed than you would in dry conditions.
6.Turn on your headlights, even when there’s a light sprinkle. It helps you see the road, and more importantly, it helps other motorists see you. However, don’t blast your high beams in the rain or fog — it’ll obscure your view further, as the light will reflect back at you off the water droplets in the air. If your car is equipped with foglights, you may find it helpful to turn these on, as they throw a little extra light on the road while making your car easier to see.
7.Watch out for pedestrians. An ordinarily observant pedestrian may become distracted by fiddling with an umbrella or a rain slicker. Plus, raindrops deaden sound, so the usual audio clues for measuring car distances become obscured. Keep a sharp lookout for people in the road.
8.If it’s raining so hard that you can’t see the road or the car in front of you, pull over and wait it out.
9.Track the car ahead of you. Let the car ahead pave a clear path, so to speak, through the water.
10.Finally, it’s a good idea to have some cleaning fluid in the windscreen washer tank. While plain water is fine, the fluid contains some chemicals that will remove oil and other dirt that sticks on the glass. Periodically, you should also clean the glass with a cleaner that removes grease and oil so that your visibility is better in the rain. Be sure to also clean the side windows, especially the one on the right side so you have a clearer view of the door mirror.
Jom komen!