Tips for driving in heavy rains
Heavy rains can come unexpectedly, but they shouldn't catch you off guard. Here are some tips for you to use when driving in heavy down pours.
Driving through heavy rains is no easy task, especially given the many challenges motorists already face while driving on Johannesburg roads. Even so, it’s important to drive to your destination safely, practicing road safety rules that’ll keep you and other motorists safe.
Arrive Alive gives the following tips that may be helpful for drivers faced with a drive during a heavy rainstorm.
Also read: SAPS urges motorists to be cautious when driving in heavy rain
Here are some tips for you to follow when you find yourself driving in heavy rains:
• Increase the three-second rule to five or six seconds to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you.
• Slow down, take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually.
• Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.
• If you find that an oncoming vehicle is overtaking from the opposite direction and isn’t likely to do it safely, slow down and be prepared to move to the left shoulder if necessary.
Also read: Everything you need to know about rainwater harvesting
• Only move towards the shoulder if you are able to see 150m ahead of you clearly. Keep in mind that pedestrians may be walking on the shoulder to avoid the mud next to the surface of the road.
• Beware of oil patches. Don’t panic. Do not jam on your brakes, just steer through. In most cases, the patches will be small.
• Always change to a lower gear before you take a bend, especially a sharp bend. Your speed should be at its slowest as you enter the bend and both your hands should be on the steering wheel. This slow in/fast out technique gives you most control when driving around a bend.
• Turn on your headlights. Use your low-beam headlights to see and be seen.
• Be careful of other vehicles to the rear and in blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.
• Wait a short time after the rain begins before using your windshield wipers because the blades may smear.
• Be extra careful during the first half hour after rain begins. Grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.
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