Top Safety Tips for Driving in the Rain

Whether it's drizzling or raining cats and dogs, driving in the rain can be difficult and unsafe. Rainy conditions increase the chances of road accidents. Therefore, every driver must take precautionary measures while driving in the rain. This article throws some light on  important tips for driving in the rain.

Here is a list of top driving tips in the rain –

• Avoid Driving in Bad Weather: If you are not comfortable driving in the rain and there is a scope to postpone the trip, wait till the weather gets better. Putting yourself in danger by unnecessarily is of no point. If you are in the middle of a trip and it starts raining, pull over and wait for a while till the visibility increases. However, make sure not to stop near a pole or tree as they are susceptible to lightning damage.
• Check All Car Equipment in Advance: Before heading out in the rain, make sure all types of equipment of your car is in working condition. Check whether the windshield wipers, headlights and tail lights are working efficiently or not. Moreover, ensure the car tyre treads have not worn out too much.
• Drive Slow: A wet road is very dangerous. A car's reaction time is considerably slower when running on a wet road. Over speeding is the most significant cause of road accidents in India, and during rain, this danger intensifies. Therefore, drive slowly while it's raining outside.
• Turn on the Lights: Turning on a car's headlights and tail lights when it is raining or misting is very necessary. These lights not only increase a driver's visibility during rain but also makes your car visible to other drivers on the road.
• Use the Windshield Wipers: A vehicle’s windshield wipers prevent the glass from accumulating moisture during heavy rain or light mist. However, drivers can adjust these wipers’ speed according to the intensity of the downpour.
• Keep a Safe Distance Between Other Vehicles: Maintaining proper distance between other cars on the road is very necessary when it is raining. This is because stopping a car is more difficult on wet roads. This is one of the best safety tips for driving in the rain.
• Avoid Driving in Standing Water: Driving your car through a puddle or standing water might cause hydroplaning. Due to hydroplaning, tyres lose traction with the road surface and tend to skid. To avoid this issue, carefully steer around these areas.
• Drive Carefully Around the Bends: Bends on slippery roads test the centre of gravity in a car. If you drive your car fast around these bends, the chances of your car losing control and skidding become extremely high. Therefore, driving slowly is very important in order to maintain your on-road safety.
• Ventilate Your Car: Humidity levels in your car increase when it is raining. A car’s windows and glass become foggy while driving in the rain. This decreases the visibility of a driver. Use a vehicle's ventilation system to reduce fog on the inner side of windshield and windows.

These are the tips for driving in the rain. Ensuring safety while driving a car in rain is easy if one makes a conscious effort to follow the aforementioned safety precautions. Reducing speed and switching on the headlights and taillights are the simplest and most efficient ways to maintain safety while driving in the rain.

Here are six things every car owner should check before starting their car –

• Inspect Your Car’s Exterior: Before you start driving, do a quick inspection of the car's exterior. Check if there are any scratches and dents. Furthermore, make sure the vehicle's lights and windows are clean. Check if the car tyres have adequate air pressure to avoid any on-road discrepancy.
• Fasten the Car Seatbelts: Make sure to fasten your seatbelts before you start the engine. It is a known fact that seatbelts save lives every day. Most modern cars come with a seatbelt warning to ensure every driver buckles up before starting the vehicle. Moreover, if you do not wear seatbelts, you will get penalised for breaking the law.
• Check the Mirrors: If used correctly, a four wheeler’s mirrors can be one of the best safety tools. Mirrors allow you to see sides and behind with just a slight movement of your head or eyes. However, adjust these mirrors according to your head position and height to ensure optimal results.
• Inspect Car Brakes: Ensure that your car's brakes have enough stopping power. If you feel they are not working or effective enough, immediately visit a nearby garage or top-up the brake fluid. Ignorance of this issue might result in life-threatening circumstances.
• Check the Car’s Gears: See if all gears are working as they should. If gears are jamming up or getting stuck, go for a car servicing. Moreover, after checking, if you do not find any issue, make sure to put the gear back to neutral before starting your car.
• Check the Warning Lights: If you find that there is any warning light on the dashboard, make sure to solve the issue before you start driving. Check engine light turns on when the engine oil is old or needs replacement.

Now that you have gone through the tips for driving in the rain, follow them diligently for your own as well as others’ safety on the road.