Drive Safely On Rain Soaked UK Roads
by RICHARD JENKINS
Driving in Britain means quite often driving whilst it is raining. Such wet conditions make driving more hazardous. The first important thing to remember when you find yourself driving in the rain or in the wet is that your stopping distance will increase by a factor of two. The two second rule becomes the four second rule.
As rain falls on your car it acts to limit your viability. Even with your windscreen wipers switched on the clarity of view can be hindered. Rainy condition will also increase the chances of your car windows misting over which again will limit the view. To ease these problems you should firstly make sure your windows are kept clean. Dirty windows making misty windows worse. Use a good quality windscreen washer concentrate in your washer reservoir. To remove the mist from the windows turn on your air-conditioning or use the heater fan. Most heater fans have a setting especially designed to demist the windscreen. If the rear window needs de-misting then turn on the rear window heater. Windscreen wipers wear out so they should be assessed for effectiveness every few months. Worn wipers are dangerous and will struggle to clear the rain from your windscreen.
It is not only the water that falls from the sky you need to worry about. Spray, water that is forced upwards from the road as other cars and lorries drive over it, can also prove hazardous. Spray can quickly and suddenly cover your windscreen severely blocking the view. Large vehicles such as lorries and coaches cause the most spray but even an average sized car can cause a considerable amount of spray. Be extra carefully after a spell of rain has cleared, when you have turned off your wipers but when there is still water on the road. Here spray can cover your windscreen and completely obscure your view until you have hurried to switch the wipers on. To keep spray to a minimum create a good distance between you and any vehicle that you follow. As a precaution if you see a heavy vehicle coming towards you then switch the wipers to full speed so that they can deal with any extra water hitting your windscreen.
In heavy or persistent rain,as the rain pools on the surface of the road aquaplaning becomes a serious risk. Aquaplaning is when the tyres surf the water and in doing so lose contact with the road. This results in a loss of traction between tyres and road. You can tell this is happening if, when driving in the wet, your steering suddenly appears to be very light. The way out of an aquaplane is to gently release the accelerator. This allows the tyres to find traction with the road. Never brake and avoid trying to steer. If you do you will be in danger of losing control of your car. Water on the road is not enough to cause a car to aquaplane. If you are traveling at an appropriate speed i.e. not too fast then you are unlikely aquaplane.
Roadside puddles can also be hazardous. As a wheel moves through a puddle drag is caused. This drag can tug at your wheels and cause you to swerve. You will also create spray that may cover your windscreen.
Driving in Britain means that sooner or later you will be confronted by a road that has been flooded. Whether you continue forward driving through the water depends on the depth of the water. If water gets into your engine then costly damage will occur. I personally would not attempt to drive through water that was higher than my cars exhaust pipe. If you do find yourself driving through water then go slowly. Speeding through water will create a wave that will rise up towards the engine and exhaust pipe. Use first gear and keep the revs high by slipping the clutch. This will reduce the chances of water entering the exhaust.
So, whenever you find yourself driving in the wet take care. Reduce your speed and up your concentration.
Richard Jenkins is owner of the UK driving test and driving schools website. A site for learner drivers providing guides on topics such as the driving theory test and the hazard perception test .
