Guide: Driving In Wet Weather Conditions

With the recent increases of heavy rain, we thought it was about time we provided you with a guide to driving in wet weather conditions. So, let’s ‘dive’ straight in;

Before embarking on your journey, it is always advisable to consider whether your journey is essential or whether you can delay it until the rain has subsided.

If yes, then ensure you plan your journey and try to avoid areas that may experience flooding. It is also worth anticipating a later arrival time due to congestion and slower speeds.

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Before you start

-        Fill up your fuel tank. It is worth noting that when you have your wipers and internal heater on, your fuel consumption will increase.

-        Take a mobile phone. Probably worth mentioning that it would be better if it was charged and had the ability to make calls.

-        Tell friends, family or generally anyone that will listen where you are going and what route you plan on taking.

-        Check over your vehicle, taking special interest in your wipers, lights and brakes.

-        Listen out for local weather updates as well as traffic news.

-        Check to make sure your tyres are road legal and safe to drive on.

How to drive

-        This will probably come as no surprise, but slow down. Reduce your speed and keep an eye on surrounding traffic.

-        Increase the distance between you and the vehicles in front in case you need to hit the brakes suddenly.

-        Avoid using rear fog lights because they can blind the drivers behind you, and they make it difficult to see your brake lights.

-        Keep your air conditioning on as this will stop your windscreen and other windows from misting up and impairing your vision of the road.

-        Use mainly dipped headlights so other road users can see you.

-        If you can concentrate whilst driving, keep the radio on so you can stay up to date with the latest traffic reports.

-        If you begin to aquaplane; ease off the accelerator, do not touch the brake and allow your vehicle to slow down by itself until you can regain full control over the steering.

-        If you drive fast through water, especially when it is deep, you can generate an expensive repair bill from the damage caused.

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Stopping distances

-        Stopping distances during wet weather doubles because of the reduced grip that your tyres have on the road.

-        Reduce your speed and keep your distance from the other road users in front of you.

How to drive through puddles

-        Stop! Take a closer look at the puddle or partial flooding before moving forward. If the water is murky then it worth getting a stick and using it to determine how deep it is.

-        If the water is too deep, then make the decision to find an alternative route to your destination. In a worst-case scenario, your vehicle could begin floating in the deep water but rest assured, the water would find its way in somewhere.

-        If the water is at a level that you deem to be safe and acceptable to drive through then go right ahead, but exercise caution. Keep an eye out for any obstructions that could damage your vehicle.

-        Stay in a low gear and maintain momentum whilst travelling through the water.

-        Once you have successfully embarked through it is worth stopping and allowing the water to drain away from the vehicle. Press the brakes a few times to remove any fluid that could have found its way between them.

We hope that the above guide has given you some more knowledge and will hopefully keep you safe through the winter.