Five rules to remember on a rainy drive

The rainy season brings, well rain, but more than that it wets the road, opens up potholes, and it can also flood key areas in the city or on the highway. We have endless listicles on AutoDeal that cover various tips and tricks before, during, and after a torrential downpour, even some for how to deal with flood. 

If we were to tell you exactly what the recommended practices are when it comes to driving in the rain and everything to consider, we’d be here all season. So let’s just cover all of the most important things that you need to know about rainy-day driving. Here are five rules to remember that’ll keep you safe. 

You have less traction in the rain, and even if your car has the “best-performing tires” in the wet, all-wheel-drive, or four-wheel-drive, we will always be subject to the laws of physics and slowing down is one way to ensure that you don’t “overload” your tires with water and start hydroplaning all over. If you need to react to a hazard on the road, give yourself ample space to brake, and perhaps swerve out of harm’s way, and going slow will buy you precious time to react. 

All inputs, whether to accelerate, to turn, or to brake, make sure that everything is smooth. Do not jerk the steering wheel while the road is wet, do not stomp on the accelerator or the brake pedals, do not downshift unnecessarily, and if you are driving a manual transmission vehicle, make sure your up and downshifts are smooth and your clutch work doesn’t squander what little traction you have. Consider this rule even more while you are driving at high speeds, especially if you are on the highway or on a twisty road. 

When it is raining, visibility and contrast are both low so cars will tend to blend into the background. Because of that, cars and also motorcycles can appear to—well—disappear on the road. Whenever you make a lane change, accelerate, or even brake, look at your mirrors. Remember, you may know the rules of a wet road, but perhaps other people aren’t as savvy, and they could end up rear-ending you if they’re not careful. 

Part of this rule will require you to also identify potential hazards on the road, and yes that also includes other drivers. Try and stay away from drivers that may be driving a little crazy out on the road, it might save you an accident or a bit of mental energy dealing with an aggressive road user.  

The same also goes for driving through a flood. Before trying to wade through, always check once, twice, three times, or find another route. We’re all for taking responsibility for your actions, but sometimes, it may be better to just look for a safer alternative. 

That is, unless you are stopped on the side, or have encountered technical difficulties, hazard lights are an absolute no-no. Trust us, if you have rear position lamps, and it’s up to you to make sure that the bulbs aren’t burnt out, your car is visible. Engaging your hazard lights will only complicate things for other drivers, as you do lose your ability to indicate where you are going. On top of that, it may also glare in the face of other drivers, causing them to lose what little visibility they have left.

Rain can bring out many problems in a car, and we’re not just talking about forgetting to change your wipers. Gaskets keep fluids in or keep them out of a certain part of a car. Now, consider a flood and all that dirty water sloshing about. Or perhaps, consider the spray from the tires or other cars. Water intrusion is not fun, and if it reaches sensitive parts like the electricals or gets where it’s not supposed to, then that’s going to be a problem.