How to Safely Drive in the Rain
The rainy season has arrived. Road conditions are increasingly challenging due to the presence of water which makes the road surface slippery. To maintain safety, it is very important to know how to drive in the rain.
Please note, rain increases the risk of accidents significantly. Data presented by The Federal Road Safety Corps from Nigeria during 2016 can be an illustration.
When the rainy season arrived, they reported 9,694 accidents on the highway involving 15,682 vehicles. The incident killed 5,053 people and 30,105 suffered injuries of varying degrees.
During the rain, there are a number of conditions that increase the risk of driving accidents. Rainwater interferes with the driver's view. Even though there are wipers, sometimes heavy rainfall makes visibility drastically reduced.
In addition, water on the road surface makes the road more slippery. When that happens, the chance of the car skidding or making a quick maneuver is greatly reduced. This condition is exacerbated by the tendency to increase traffic density when the rain arrives.
For this reason, it is important to know how to drive safely when it rains. Understanding it will ensure driving safety. So, how do you do it? Here are some of them.
CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE TIRES
The condition of tires should always be maintained, but entering the rainy season, it is recommended that inspection be more intensive. Because tires really determine driving safety.
Slippery roads when it rains require good tire grip so that steering control remains optimal. This can only be achieved if the tire condition is optimal and not bald. Don't force it to use it if the tire is bald.
Therefore, before driving, make sure the tires are in good condition. Also check the pressure so that it matches the recommendations, so that the tire performance is in the best condition.
INCREASE SAFE DISTANCE
Driving accidents often occur due to negligence in calculating safe distances. When the rainy season arrives, discipline in maintaining distance must be increased. The reason is, slippery roads make the braking distance shorter.
Water makes it more difficult for tires to tread the road properly. This is what makes the brakes not as optimal on dry roads. This often triggers accidents.
For this reason, it is recommended to increase the safe distance during rain. Under normal conditions, the “two minute gap” with the vehicle in front already supports driving safety. However, when it rains, double the safe distance to four minutes. This is necessary when braking takes longer.
At the same time, reduce the speed of the car. Again, this is related to the increased need for time to brake and slippery road conditions when it rains.
MAKE SURE THE CAR IS IN PRIMARY CONDITION
The safe way to drive in the rain cannot be separated from the vehicle's excellent condition. Without it, driving safety could be compromised.
When it rains, cars are often forced to drive through puddles of water. It seems trivial, but this maneuver carries the risk of danger. Drivers do not know the condition of the flooded road surface. If there are holes, the car is prone to slipping or even breaking tires.
Apart from that, the water in the rainy season affects the humidity of the car. Wet vehicle components are prone to damage so they do not function optimally. This will increase the risk of accidents.
To avoid this, check the condition of the car first. Make sure it is in prime condition first so that it is safe to use in the rain.