Once
again the rainy season is here and giving shivers to all who are frightened to
drive on wet & slippery roads. If you are one of those or even if not, read
on this article for some handy tips that will help you drive safely in rainy
season.
Before
monsoon arrives
Even before monsoon arrives, do take your
car, bike or any other vehicle to the service station. Ready your vehicle to
take on the lashing rains. Checking simple things like tyres, brakes, wipers
and lights will ensure that your car doesn’t fail you when the road conditions
are harsh. Here is what you have to pay attention to:
- Check condition of the tyres - the tread grooves should be of
min 1.5mm to 2mm in all the tires. Look for sidewall cuts in tires, if so,
replace them immediately.
- Check brake liners. Ensure proper functioning of the break
system.
- Check Brake oil.
- Ensure good quality of electrical wiring, as monsoon is the time
for most electrical failures.
- Replace old or brittle wipers.
- Ensure if the wipers, all signal lights and tail lamp are in
working condition.
Even if you vehicle is well maintained and
serviced, it can’t substitutes you being alert and careful on the road. Here
are some tips to customize your driving skills specifically for the monsoon:
Wet or rainy weather conditions demand gentle use of all the
main controls - steering, clutch, brake and accelerator while driving. You also
need to keep a larger space for errors and emergencies. Small thing like
driving with wet shoes can be very critical in an emergency situation. Make
sure to dry your shoes before hitting the pedals of your car. All drivers
should regularly check that their headlights, taillights, brake lights and turn
signals. Things like a flashlight, first aid box, spanner or ropes may not be
required but it may come in handy during breakdown or any other emergency.
Slow down!
Always keep your vehicle within 40 kmph to 60 kmph speed limit.
It takes a longer distance to stop you car in an emergency. Increase your
distance from other vehicles moving along as you increase your speed. As a thumb rule keep a distance of 1 metre for
every 5 kmph speed. For example, if you are driving at 40 kmph, keep a distance of
at least 40/5 = 8 metres from vehicles driving along with you.
Expressway driving
As already mentioned above, leave
lots of space between you and the vehicle in front because it takes longer to
stop. If you need to hit the brakes hard, your tires will lock up, your car
will slip and you will most likely hit the vehicle in front of you. If
available, drive in the fast lane, where there are fewer vehicles and less oil
deposited on the road. Also, because of the built-in slope of the road, water
drains towards the slower lanes. Avoid lane changes, as water tends to build up
between the tire ruts in the lanes.
Turn on the head light
Turn on your lights even in a light rain, or in gloomy, foggy or overcast
conditions. It not only helps you to see clearly but also help other drivers
see you.
Drive in the tracks
Follow the path of a vehicle ahead of
you but keep an eye on the road. This helps you to get a better picture of the
road ahead and avoid last moment panics. Note: In case of a two wheeler,
never drive in middle of the vehicle running ahead of you especially a four
wheeler or heavy vehicle like truck or dumper. They tend to skip the potholes
or any other obstacles right between their wheels.
Keep an eye on the brake lights
in front of you
Always keep your
eyes wide open to see the red light in front of you. That is an indication of
slowing down or breaking of the vehicle in front of you.
WATCH
OUT
Wet roads pose problems of their own. Being alert will help you
identify potential hazards.
Oil deposits – Keep
an eye road for oil spills especially at intersections because it’s the place
where oil tend to deposit. Rain is most dangerous when it falls after a long,
dry spell on to roads that have become polished and smooth: the rain blends
with oil and rubber-dust deposits on the road surface to form a highly
dangerous skid mixture. That mixture builds up at intersections, where vehicles
stop and start frequently. Be extra careful immediately after it starts raining
because it takes a while for the worst of the dirt and oil to get washed off
the road.
Check your brakes – If
you have just passed through a deep water hazard, check your brakes immediately
for proper functionality. If you find it slippery, keep driving slowly with
brake peddles pushed forward softly. This will generate enough heat on brake
liners to dry them off. Be sure they are pulling evenly on all wheels before
building up speed again.
Heavy vehicles – Keep an
eye on heavy vehicles driving along, especially trucks laden with mud, rocks,
concrete or any other heavy goods. Keep a safe distance from them. If possible
drive pass ahead of them as soon as possible.
DRIVING SKILL
Specific conditions on the road demands
fine tuning of your driving skills both for safety as well as comfort.
Manage speed: Manage speed of your vehicle as per the
traction of tyres on road. Lower the traction, lower the speed as it takes
longer to stop with low traction.
Visibility: Adjust
your speed to stop within your seeing distance according to the visibility
conditions.
Traffic conditions: Maintain safe
space cushion all around your vehicle.
Road characteristics: Shape affects
traction and visibility; adjust speed for curves and hills
SKIDS: Skids are one of the most common causes for accidents and
casualties during the monsoons. Here is what you must do if you ever happen to
skid on the road.
Handling a skid -. You can
prevent skids by driving slowly and carefully, especially on curves. Brake
before entering the curves. Steer and brake with a light touch. If you find
yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully
steer in the direction you want the front of the vehicle to go. This procedure,
known as "steering into the skid," will bring the back end of your
vehicle in line with the front. For vehicles without anti-lock brakes, avoid
using your brakes. To avoid hydroplaning - which occurs when the water in front
of your tires builds up faster than your car's weight, can push it out of the
way -- do not brake or turn suddenly. This could throw the vehicle into a skid.
Ease your foot off the gas until the car slows and you can feel the road again.
Front end skids: Release the
brake and let the front wheels roll freely to regain traction and steering
control.
Rear end skids: Take foot off
of accelerator and turn wheels in the direction that rear of the vehicle is
skidding, and pump brakes slightly.
ABSOLUTE DON’TS IN RAINY SEASON DRIVING
Don’t drive in heavy rain - When visibility is so limited that the
edges of the road or other vehicles cannot be seen at a safe distance, it is
time to pull over and wait for the rain to ease up. It is best to stop at rest
areas or other protected areas. If the roadside is your only option, pull off
as far as possible, and wait until the rain slows. Keep your headlights on and
turn on emergency flashers to alert other drivers.
Do not apply brakes suddenly while driving in the rain, instead control
the speed with the accelerator, pump the brake peddle and apply the brake
slowly, as sudden braking may result in skidding or overturning of the vehicle.
Do not suddenly swing the vehicle while driving in the rain which
can result in the vehicle skidding or rolling over.
Avoid driving in the rain during darkness. A simple but important thumb rule is “if
you can’t see the road, there is no road”. At
night, rainy roads become especially treacherous. The glare of oncoming lights
is amplified by the rain on your windscreen which causes temporary loss of
visibility, which can result in an accident. This also increases driver
fatigue. Livestock, pedestrians, bicycles & other two wheelers are
extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid.
Never drive through moving water until and unless you can see the ground clearly. if you
can't see the ground through it; your vehicle could be swept off the road.
Avoid off-road driving it's
hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and you can easily become stuck.
During thunderstorm avoid
contact with metal or conducting surfaces outside and inside the vehicle.
Lightning that strikes nearby can travel through wet ground to your car.
