When travelling in the UK, you’re inevitably going to end up driving in the rain, whether that be during your commute to work or whilst you’re on a road trip. Either way, it’s important to know how to drive on wet roads as they pose far more risks than dry roads.
Wet roads can affect handling, stopping distances and visibility, so it’s important to take precautions before you get behind the wheel. To keep you safe in these less-than-desirable weather conditions, we’ve pulled together 7 tips to help you drive safely in the rain.
1. Prepare For Your Journey
Whilst it would be preferable to wait until the rain clouds have passed to head out on the roads, we know that isn’t always possible. So instead, you should make sure that you know how to drive on wet roads and that both you and your car are equipped for everything from a drizzle to torrential downpours.
As experienced drivers ourselves, we’d recommend:
- Checking your tyres – Wet roads can dramatically reduce the grip your car will have on the road and if your tyres are bald, your safety will be at serious risk. Before you head out, check your tyre tread depth is, at the very least, the legal minimum.
- Checking your headlights – Heavy rain can hinder visibility, so you must have working headlights to safely navigate the roads.
- Planning your journey – Make sure you’re familiar with your route. Traffic and any road accidents could force you to take a detour, so make sure you’ve got a sat nav or map to hand to make sure you’re prepared for this situation.
- Charging your phone – If you’re using your phone for directions, you need to make sure it has enough charge to see you to your destination. It’s also important that you can rely on your phone should you need to call for assistance in the event of an accident or breakdown.
2. Check Travel Information
This is likely something you do before beginning a journey anyway, to check for any road closures or bad traffic. When travelling in adverse weather conditions, it’s just as important to keep an eye on travel info in case your planned route is no longer viable.
We’d recommend sticking on the local radio station for regular travel updates or having any passengers keep an eye on live updates from travel news websites.
3. Manage Your Speed
When driving on wet roads, stopping distances can increase by over double the average distance, so it’s important to factor this in when choosing your speed. A popular rule of thumb is to reduce your speed by about a third, to help you account for slower stopping.
When you’re driving in heavy traffic on a wet road, it’s also important to leave a larger distance between you and the car in front. In dry weather, Highway Code recommends giving a 2-second gap between your vehicle and the one in front. When it’s wet, you should increase this distance to at least 4 seconds, or more if you need a little extra reaction time.
4. Use Dipped Headlights
As outlined in the Highway Code, you must make sure that you use dipped headlights when driving in rainy conditions. This is because the light from your headlights can dazzle other drivers and pose extra risks when visibility is already poor. Similarly, rain can reduce your own visibility, as the water reflects the light.
Dipped headlights ensure you’re still able to see and navigate the road but avoid the added risk of affecting visibility.
5. Make Sure Your Windscreen Wiper Fluid Tank is Full
First things first is to check that your windscreen wipers are working properly and can function at all speeds. If the rain picks up, you’re going to need to stick them on fast wiping to make sure you’re able to keep your eyes on the road.
Rainy and windy weather can increase the amount of road spray that comes off the road, easily covering your windscreen. Ensuring you have a full tank of windscreen wiper fluid will help you easily remove any dirt or debris.
6. Avoid Large Pools of Standing Water
What may look like a shallow pool of water could be covering up a much deeper pothole or uneven ground beneath it, so it’s best to avoid these where possible. Of course, it goes without saying that any water which is deeper than the distance from your exhaust pipe to the road should be avoided at all costs, as your car will stall if this is covered.
Aquaplaning
You may have heard this term before and if not, you’ve likely seen it on the road. Aquaplaning happens when there is a build-up of water between your car and the road, meaning that your tyres are unable to grip the tarmac. This will take away any control you have over the vehicle and if you find yourself in this situation, it’s best to avoid harsh braking as you are likely to skid.
Instead, you should slowly reduce your speed until you regain control of the vehicle. Once you do, slowly navigate away from any pools of standing water to prevent this from happening again.
7. Have a Breakdown Plan
Whilst all the above tips on this list will help you prevent a breakdown, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re prepared if the unthinkable does happen.
Make sure you have a breakdown service you can call and that it covers the areas you’re planning to travel to. It’s also a good idea to pack waterproof clothing and umbrellas, as you’ll need to get out of your car and stand behind the safety barrier if you pull over on the motorway.
Drive Safely in The Rain With a New Car
As the technology used in vehicles advances, drivers are able to take advantage of new and improved safety features. Many of those help with driving in what would otherwise be extremely tricky conditions.
If your car is a little outdated when it comes to performance-related features, it might just be time for an upgrade. Explore the range of new cars we have available here at JCT600 or give us a call if you need a hand when choosing.