Five things to check on your car before driving during the rainy season

The rainy season is in full swing once again, bringing heavy rainfall across the country. Along with the downpour come various road hazards and added stress on your vehicle. While it’s common knowledge that driving cautiously in low-visibility, wet conditions is essential, it's equally important to ensure your car is properly prepared for the rain.

Before you hit the road, take a moment to inspect your vehicle. Here are five key areas you should check to stay safe while driving in the rain.

When was the last time you had your wiper blades replaced? If your answer is a year ago or if you can’t remember, then it’s likely that your car needs new ones. While you’re in the car, check if your wipers are skipping, squeaking, or leaving streaks behind on your windshield. While these could be a minor annoyance during light showers, it can be fatal during a heavy downpour, as it can exacerbate low visibility conditions caused by the rain.

The grooves in your tires aren’t just for appearance—they’re carefully engineered patterns designed to channel water away from the contact patch, helping to prevent hydroplaning and maintain grip on wet roads.

While tire inspection is important year-round, it becomes critical during the rainy season. The legal minimum tread depth is 1.6 mm, but for safe driving in wet conditions, a tread depth of at least 3.2 mm is recommended. Driving on bald tires significantly increases your risk of losing traction, or worse, experiencing a blowout.

Don’t forget to check for signs of dry rot as well. Cracked, aging tires offer poor traction in wet conditions and should be replaced promptly.

Torrential rain significantly reduces visibility of the road and surrounding vehicles. As such, it's essential to ensure all your lights, including headlights, taillights, turn signals, and fog lights, are fully functional. If any light is dim or not working, replace it immediately.

Don’t forget to check your brake lights as well. Visibility isn't just important from the front; drivers behind you also need to see when you're slowing down or stopping, especially in poor weather conditions.

Brakes are your vehicle’s most critical safety systems, even more so when it’s wet, where stopping distances increase and road traction decreases. Rain can reduce your tires' grip on the road, making it harder to stop quickly and increasing the chances of skidding or losing control.

Before driving in the rain, inspect your brake system. Listen for unusual squealing or grinding noises, which may indicate worn brake pads. Pay attention to any change in brake pedal feel. If it feels soft, spongy, or requires extra pressure, your braking system may need immediate attention. Also, ensure your brake fluid is at the correct level and not contaminated.

If you're unsure about your brakes’ condition, have them inspected by a professional when you can. Until they've been properly serviced, it's best to postpone any non-essential trips.

Your car battery might not be the first thing you think about before driving in the rain, but it’s more important than you’d think. It powers everything, from starting your engine to keeping your headlights, wipers, and defoggers running smoothly. And when it’s pouring outside, you definitely want all of that working.

Wet and chilly weather can push a weak battery over the edge. So before you hit the road, pop the hood and take a quick look. Are the terminals clean and tightly connected? Is the battery sitting firmly in place? If your battery is more than three years old, it’s smart to get it tested, just to be safe. And if your battery is aging but hasn’t shown signs of trouble yet, consider picking up a portable jump pack. It’s a handy backup in case your engine dies while you’re out on the road.