Rainy-Day Driving Tips: How To Make it Safer

The season of monsoon symbolises music and celebration; while the rain pour is a blessing from nature to everyone, drivers may not share the same sentiment. The wet roads make it hard to drive through and reach your destination on time. One may love rain and its quirks, but being stuck in the driver's seat isn't much appreciated by anyone.

Three essential things to check before driving in the rain:

• Tyres - You should make sure the tyres are not worn out and have enough tread for proper grip on the road. One way to check that is to put a Rs. 10 coin into the tread. If the gold ring isn't visible, that assures the tyres' serviceable quality.

• Lights - It's essential to check if the lights are working properly or not. One way to check that is to make sure the light passes through any glass container containing water. You can also use a fishbowl to check that.

• Wipers - Check if the wipers are working well or not. You can spray water to check that. Also, clean any clogged dirt before starting the ride.

The best advice for driving on a rainy day is to wait always till it gets cleared out. But if it's urgent and you have to drive in the rain, then the following driving tips would surely help you:

1. Drive slower than usual.

Vehicles need time to adjust to the lower traction, as it takes longer to react to breaks and turns; therefore, to avoid any unwanted accidents, it's essential to make your way through the roads slowly.

2. Keep your lights and wipers on.

Having proper visibility is the best way to avoid getting into an accident. Always keep all the lights and windshield wipers working. Not only will that keep you safe, but other drivers will also be able to see because of the well-lit backlight. Nowadays, most vehicles come equipped with powerful LED lights and different windshield wiper speed options.

3. Always maintain a safe distance.

Always try to drive in the middle to avoid skidding on the water accumulation on the side tracks. Along with that, keep your distance from other vehicles. '2-second gap' is the ideal distance to maintain between yourself and the car in front of you.

4. Don't Accelerate during hydroplaning.

Try not to panic if your car is hydroplaning, and never hit the brake or make a sharp turn all of a sudden. First, take your foot off the accelerator pedal, and then slowly steer the car in the direction you want to drive to get the wheels to react to your actions.

5. Proper ventilation

Windows tend to get foggy during rainfalls. This is because of an increase in the humidity levels inside the car. Do not risk driving in such conditions and pull over for a while.