The rain is an inevitable companion for the usual driver, because sooner or later the liquid element will fall on the asphalt and will force us to exercise extreme caution. And it is that driving always in the same way is a big mistake, because when the road gets wet, grip decreases drastically and the behavior of the vehicle changes accordingly. This is why, as the DGT points out, it is important that we know what we should do (and what not) when driving in the rain.
When driving in the rain the danger increases
When the rain appears, the danger at the wheel increases, since the tires can lose grip. From the first drops of rain you have to pay special attention to driving and adapt the speed of your car to the circumstances of the road.
Thus, when driving in the rain it becomes delicate and requires greater attention to the steering wheel due to the decrease in the grip of the tires with the road. Asphalt becomes slippery and a film of water is created when rainfall is high, which can cause the dreaded aquaplaning , forcing us to pay extreme attention.
Also because the dirt on the surface mixed with the water, when the rain has not cleaned it sufficiently, makes the roads more slippery. For this reason, and from the hand of the General Directorate of Traffic, we see some basic recommendations of what to do and what not to do when the rain surprises us at the wheel.
What you should know
Because, although we are all clear about the basic concepts that must be met on wet ground, when it comes down to it, most drivers feel insecure when they have to drive in the rain. Precisely for this reason, it does not hurt to review what must be taken into account in these cases.
In fact, and according to the studies carried out by the DGT, rain increases the chances of suffering an accident on the road by up to 70% , by worsening the grip of the tires on the road and the driver’s visibility. On the other hand, driving in rainy conditions with worn tires or shock absorbers will not be the same as driving with dirty windows.
Increase the safety distance
The rain modifies the conditions of the road and also the visibility, so when driving you must take it into account and apply a series of guidelines to drive safely.
For this reason, when it rains, the braking capacity of your car can be altered, so you will need more meters than normal to stop safely. It is advisable to double your safety distance from other vehicles.
Be very careful with aquaplaning
Aquaplaning is an effect that occurs when the tires cannot adhere to the asphalt as they cannot evacuate the water that is on the road. This causes the car to slide on a thin layer of water between the tire and the road.
To avoid this dangerous situation, it is important to follow these points:
- Reduce your speed without braking when you approach the puddle.
- Gently lift your foot off the accelerator and hold the steering wheel firmly.
- Do not change the trajectory.
- Do not brake until you feel that your car has regained contact with the ground.
- In addition, in order to prevent aquaplaning, we recommend that you follow the track of the car in front of you, since there is less water accumulated on that track and it is easier to avoid this problem.
Avoid sudden maneuvers
If you find yourself in a hydroplaning situation on a straightaway, the most important thing is to stay calm and do nothing with the steering wheel , keep it still and ease off the throttle gently. Once the car slows down you can regain control.
If this happens to you in a curve, the procedure to follow is the same, only instead of leaving the steering wheel still, what you should do is turn it just enough to trace the curve you are driving through. Do not turn it more than necessary, at least until the car regains grip. This is very important when driving in the rain.
Check the elements of the car on rainy days
A task that should have been done before the first rains but, if not, you should review urgently is to check the status of some of the most important elements in our vehicle when we have to deal with precipitation.
This is seen, logically, with the windshield wipers. As a general rule, the ideal is to replace the wiper blades now so that they are in the best possible condition at the time when rainfall is going to be more frequent. In addition, the summer especially punishes the tires both due to the extreme heat and the proliferation of dirt (especially dust and sand).
Watch the tires
You have to do it all the time (and it’s easy to know if the tire pattern is correct), but even more so when it rains. The grip decreases a lot, and it is essential that your tires dislodge as much water as possible.
In this sense, it is better to avoid cheap or private label tires as they offer lower performance and aquaplaning usually appears earlier. Even though these tires are wider and stiffer, it does not mean that they protect you more from the rain, since this actually makes it difficult for the water to evacuate from the tire.