Driving in the Heavy Rain

by Ronel Forbes

February 10, 2022

After months of oppressive heat, the long-awaited season has arrived. Rain falls from the sky in a literal sense.

The lush vegetation, the croaking of bullfrogs, and Petrichor, the most captivating scent of wet earth, are all brought to life by the downpour. However, while rain generates these wonderful things, it also presents significant obstacles in our daily life.

Driving in severe weather is one such stumbling block.

Low vision, high gusts, and slick roads are all dangerous driving situations in heavy rain. However, if you learn the art of driving in these conditions, you’ll be able to confront the rigors of rain with a huge smile on your face.

Let’s have a look at how you may drive safely in heavy rain.

Low Visibility Driving

During particularly severe rains, visibility might plummet to as low as 5-10%. If the rains are accompanied by thick fog, visibility may be reduced to zero.

If the motorist is not fully awake, driving in such conditions might be fatal. The first thing to do in this situation is to turn down the music volume; if that isn’t possible, be alert and listen for any honking from another vehicle.

Second, combine fog lights with low beams. When using high lights, the light can reflect, causing distraction. Maintain a speed of at least 10 to 20 kilometers below the posted restrictions.

Driving on Wet and Slippery Surfaces

Traction control is now a standard function in most autos. This aids a driver in maintaining control of a vehicle on slick roads.

Even if your car does not have this feature, you can still try to take control of it. You must turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid if your car is skidding off course.

This is referred to as driving into a skid. When you drive into a skid, it straightens out, allowing you to maintain control of the vehicle.

High Winds While Driving

Rain and heavy winds are a lethal mix. It’s all too easy to lose control and swerve in the wrong direction.

You must maintain a strong grasp on the steering wheel in this situation. In any event, steer clear of big vehicles such as trailers, tankers, trucks, and the like. Controlling these vehicles gets difficult in heavy winds.

If you crash with these cars, their drivers may lose control of their vehicles. Also, when driving down a slope in strong gusts, be especially cautious. You could be pushed forward with a gust of a strong current which could increase your speed.

Apply the brakes earlier and with less force.

In dry weather, pressing the brake pedal earlier than usual sends an advance warning to the driver behind you. It’s ideal to keep at least 3 seconds of stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front of you when it’s raining.

Make sure to include extra travel time.

When the weather is poor, it’s also a bad time to be in a hurry. In fact, you’ll need to travel slower than usual because everyone else will be doing the same.

The best thing to do is plan ahead of time, especially if you know you’ll be traveling through congested locations. Don’t forget to keep an eye on the weather forecast for signs of heavy rain during your vacation.

Slow down

When driving in a severe downpour, one of the safest things you can do is slow down. Only drive at a speed that is comfortable for you, taking into account the current road and weather circumstances. If you slow down, you’ll have more time to respond if you come across a large puddle or another car loses control.

Use cruise control sparingly.

It’s not a good idea to use cruise control in heavy rain since the system is programmed to maintain your current speed, which you don’t want to do when you’re hydroplaning because it increases your chance of losing control.

Keep a safe distance from buses and vehicles.

During heavy rains, large vehicles such as trucks and buses spray water from their tires, making driving particularly difficult because the spray can obscure your view. Try to avoid passing large trucks and buses as much as possible, but if it’s absolutely unavoidable, do it as fast and safely as possible.

Make an emergency supply kit.

In bad weather, you’ll have to prepare for the worst. Prepare an emergency kit with basics like flashlights, food, water, and medicine to ensure that you are prepared for anything that may occur.

Final Thoughts

With a calm attitude, one may easily endure difficult situations such as driving in severe rain and wind on slick roads. The goal is to keep control of the vehicle and arrive at your destination safely. Apart from gaining these abilities, you must also ensure that you are protected from any financial problems that may arise as a result of your vehicle.