After the rain: Road hazards to watch out for

When it rains it pours, and while the rain itself is already a road hazard that keeps us in our homes, there are a few hazards that come about after. Strong rains may actually change the road conditions that you have become accustomed to, revealing things and bringing things that might not have been there before. 

In this article, we’ll run through just some of the road hazards that you need to be wary of after a strong shower. 

Perhaps the chief of all hazards to look out for after the rain are those dreaded potholes. It’s not a fun time dipping your wheels and risking damage while driving. Even at reasonable speeds, potholes can wreak havoc on your rims and perhaps even your suspension. 

Rainwater will wash away the top layer of asphalt, and poorly paved sections or heavily abused sections of highways or roads may wash away. Major road damage brought on by the rain will make the concrete base of the road show, resulting in a dip and a potentially sharp lip. 

Potholes can also be hard to spot on the move if they’re deep enough to hold water, creating the illusion of a flat, paved road. If you’re on a road you’re unfamiliar with, the best course of action is to keep a constant speed and regularly scan the road for any telltale signs of potholes.

While potholes need to be avoided, you may not notice the waves and divots in the road, While you can (to an extent) roll over the waves and imperfections on a road, it may influence your steering, or even cause you to lose control. At best, it will just be a minor inconvenience to your passengers, however, it’s best that you avoid these things altogether. 

How well your car handles is only as good as your contract patch with the ground. If the surface is level, you have the potential for the best traction available. However, if it is off-camber and you have no space to maneuver, make sure to grip your steering wheel properly and be prepared to catch the car’s steering wheel if ever. 

Trash and other debris can be carried onto the road, especially if it floods. Your tire will always be in contact with the road, and if it rolls over anything other than asphalt or concrete, then you might be in for a little loss in traction. Stuff like plastic bottles, loose asphalt, some rocks, or just any sort of trash and road debris is something to watch out for.

In worst-case scenarios, these types of debris can get lodged in areas like the grille, control arms, and sometimes even shock absorber springs, which can cause a disconcerting noise at best, or cause dents, scratches, and punctures at worst.

Fallen trees can potentially bring traffic to a screeching halt. When a tree falls on the road, a clearing operation must ensue. Because of this, traffic may be brought to a screeching halt until the obstruction. Trees are everywhere, even in the city, and right after the rain, you may encounter some especially if the winds were strong during the storm. 

Worse than that, however, are landslides. Common on mountain roads, landslides may black the entire thoroughfare or the entire roadway depending on how severe it is. After a storm, it’s always important to slow things down. You never know what nature brought and wrought on our roads and highways, so be prepared to slow down at all times.

Unfortunately, not everyone keeps on top of their car’s maintenance which leaves their vehicles vulnerable to breaking down. Heavy rain can sometimes cause a car to stall, leaving drivers stranded on the roadside. With this in mind, be extra cautious while driving; encountering a broken-down car can already ruin someone's day, and you don't want to make it worse by rear-ending them. 

It’s likely that local government units and other bodies will contract workers to fix the damage right after or a while after the calamity. Roadworks are quite common after a storm so be prepared for a bit of traffic and repaving on your drive. 

While a big hassle, road repair workers are required to properly indicate and block off the section of road they’re working on, which means that ample space will be given to motorists to slow down. Pay attention to signs, in other words.