Spring is coming and with it, the rainy season. With this in mind, here are some tips from the AA on how to stay safe while driving on wet roads.
• Turn on your vehicle’s headlights.
• Make sure you have sufficient tread on your tyres to minimise the chances of aquaplaning.
• Watch out for spray from other vehicles – spray reduces visibility considerably.
• Adjust your speed accordingly – make sure you can stop in the distance you can see.
• Avoid abrupt acceleration, braking and steering movement. Sudden stops and turns may cause skidding.
• Allow extra distance for braking. Your car needs more distance to stop on wet roads.
• Cloudy and rainy weather reduces visibility, so take extra care when passing other vehicles.
• Increase your following distance. Allow at least four to eight seconds between your car and the car in front of you.
• Do not drive through flooded areas unless you are sure the water is below the bottom of the wheel rims. If you have any doubt, do not drive through the pool of water, rather find an alternate route.
• If you must drive through high water, drive slowly in a low gear, holding the steering wheel steady.
• After driving in heavy rain for some time without applying the brakes or if you drive through standing water, lightly apply the brakes to dry them, especially if the vehicle is fitted with drum brakes.
• If you have car trouble, turn on your hazard lights and pull completely off the road.
• Carry a cellphone in case you need to call for help.
