Safe Driving In The Rain

Monsoons may come unannounced but so do collisions. This is reason enough for you to drive safe in the rains. However experienced a driver you maybe, but safety should be your primary concern always. You need to adapt your driving to the rainy weather conditions because rains come with a myriad of problems like reduced visibility and loss of traction. The host of challenges brought about by torrential downpour cannot just be ignored. 

What are the precautions that one needs to take when driving in the rains?

Make a check on the vehicle condition -

1. Wiper blade is the quintessential requirement of a vehicle during monsoons. Check if the wiper blades are moving properly or if they need to be replaced.

2. Equally important is the brake pedal and the vehicle lights (headlight, taillight, braking light, turn indicator light) which need to be functioning.

3. Check out for the tyre inflation and tread. Poor tread and improper inflation affect the grip on wet roads.

Road tips when driving in the rain-

1. Follow the four-second rule during monsoon which means that you need to keep double the minimum safe distance from the vehicle in the front. Also, heavy vehicles like trucks and buses splash water on all sides which may disturb you while driving. So keep a safe distance from them.

2. Avoid driving on roads which you aren’t familiar with and don’t venture off the road without knowing the road conditions.

3. Be wary of roads that are completely submerged in water. Watch out for the low lying areas and the underpass during heavy rain.

4. Don’t risk driving your vehicle against the strong water currents. There is every possible chance that you have undermined the flowing water strength, and this water can pull at your wheels causing the vehicle to swerve and be swept off the road.

5. Follow the vehicle in front of you albeit at a safe distance and avoid overtaking.

6. Watch for the brake lights from vehicles on the opposite side.

7. Visibility is a case for concern during monsoon. The glare coming from the opposite vehicle coupled with the incessant rain falling on the windshield reduces the front end visibility. Go slow when the road ahead becomes invisible.

8. Water usually pools at either side of the road so make sure you drive on the highest elevated part of the road, and that happens to be the center.

9. Drive slowly, because fast driving causes the water to create waves and there is a possibility of water entering your vehicle and spoiling the electric circuit. Also, the speed increases the chance of aquaplaning. The tyres will not be able to displace the water on the roads fast enough with the result that the tyres will move on the water surface. This reduces the traction of tyres, and you lose control of your vehicle.

Vehicle handling tips while driving in the rain-

1. Do not apply sudden brakes. Let the brakes be gentle so that the wheels get locked smoothly.

2. Turn on the headlights so that others can see your approaching car. Don’t use hazard lights because that can distract the drivers in the front.

3. The driving conditions during monsoon demand that you do not accelerate when it isn’t required.

4. When your car is losing traction, start releasing the accelerator gradually so that the tyres regain the lost grip. Do not apply sudden brakes or turn the steering wheel as you risk losing car control.

We at BramhaCorp strongly believe, our customers are the reason for our success. They remain at our core. And hence we advocate safe driving in heavy rains. When the road conditions are not good in monsoon, it is always better to follow safe driving tips to avoid unnecessary hassles and collisions.