| Driving in the rain or when the roads are wet makes | | | | your steering suddenly starts to feel too light. This is |
| driving more dangerous. This is increased danger is not | | | | due to the fact the tyres have no grip with the road. If |
| just a case of increased stopping distances, which will | | | | this does happen to you do not panic and step on the |
| be at least twice as much as when driving in the dry, | | | | brake pedal. Do not even try and steer. If you do you |
| other factors also come into play. | | | | run the risk of losing control of your vehicle. The |
| In the rain the vision of drivers and other road users will | | | | correct procedure is to remove your foot from the |
| be reduced. Falling rain can obscure the view through | | | | accelerator. As you slow the tyres should connect |
| windows, even with the wipers turned on. Windows | | | | with the road giving you back grip and control. Water |
| are also more likely to mist up. To help ease this | | | | on the road is not the sole cause of aquaplaning, |
| problem keep your windows clean and free of grease | | | | speed is also a crucial factor. The more speed the |
| and grime. Your windscreen washer reservoir should | | | | greater the chance of aquaplaning. So when there is |
| be kept full and contain a good windscreen washer | | | | standing water on the road reduce your speed. |
| fluid. To de-mist your windscreen turn on your heater | | | | Puddles at the side of the road can also be dangerous. |
| fan making sure you have it on the correct setting. | | | | When driving through them the drag of the water on |
| Your windscreen wipers should be checked on a | | | | your wheels can pull the steering. If you fail to adjust |
| regular basis. Wipers after a year or so become worn | | | | your steering quickly enough this can cause you to |
| and lose their ability to clear water from your | | | | swerve. |
| windscreen. Ineffective wipers will drastically impair | | | | Britain seems to increasingly be the victim of flooding. |
| your ability to see through your windscreen. | | | | With our miles of country roads and often uneven |
| In wet weather conditions when other traffic is on the | | | | road surface on occasion you will find yourself |
| road you also need to be aware of spray. This is | | | | confronted by a pool of water blocking your way. The |
| water send up as tyres run over it on the road. All | | | | question should you drive through it depends on how |
| vehicles can cause spray buy look out for heavy | | | | deep it is. If water blocks your exhaust, and if it enters |
| vehicles in particular. Spray is especially dangerous | | | | the engine air intake the serious damage is likely to be |
| once the rain has actually stopped. In this situation you | | | | caused. If you decide to drive on then drive slowly. If |
| are likely to to have turned off your wipers. You then | | | | you drive at speed you will cause a wave which will |
| pass a vehicle which sprays water on to your | | | | rise up and increases the chance of flooding the |
| windscreen blocking your view and forcing you to | | | | engine. Use first gear and keep the revs high by |
| quickly turn your wipers on. To help avoid spray keep | | | | dipping the clutch as this will help prevent water coming |
| well back from vehicles in front. If you see a large | | | | into the exhaust. Once through the water apply the |
| vehicle approaching the turn your wipers on to full | | | | brakes a few times as this will help dry them. |
| speed just in case it sprays you. | | | | In conclusion wet roads are more dangerous roads. |
| With water on the road there is always a danger of | | | | They are more slippery and produce more hazard |
| aquaplaning. This is when tyres surf on the water and | | | | than dry roads. The safest thing to do is to slow down. |
| lose all grip. You will know you are aquaplaning when | | | | |