7 Tips For Driving Safely in The Rain

When travelling in the UK, you’re inevitably going to end up driving in the rain, whether that be during your commute to work or whilst you’re on a road trip. Either way, it’s important to know how to drive on wet roads as they pose far more risks than dry roads.

Wet roads can affect handling, stopping distances and visibility, so it’s important to take precautions before you get behind the wheel. To keep you safe in these less-than-desirable weather conditions, we’ve pulled together 7 tips to help you drive safely in the rain.

Whilst it would be preferable to wait until the rain clouds have passed to head out on the roads, we know that isn’t always possible. So instead, you should make sure that you know how to drive on wet roads and that both you and your car are equipped for everything from a drizzle to torrential downpours.

As experienced drivers ourselves, we’d recommend:

• Checking your tyres – Wet roads reduce grip, so it's important that your tyres are in good condition and have sufficient tread. Check the tread depth, tyre pressures and look for any cuts, cracks or other damage before setting off. While 1.6mm is the legal minimum tread depth for most car tyres, tyres with greater tread depth can provide better performance in wet conditions.
• Checking your headlights – Heavy rain can hinder visibility, so you must have working headlights to safely navigate the roads.
• Planning your journey – Make sure you’re familiar with your route. Traffic and any road accidents could force you to take a detour, so make sure you’ve got a sat nav or map to hand to make sure you’re prepared for this situation.
• Charging your phone – If you’re using your phone for directions, you need to make sure it has enough charge to see you to your destination. It’s also important that you can rely on your phone should you need to call for assistance in the event of an accident or breakdown.

This is likely something you do before beginning a journey anyway, to check for any road closures or bad traffic. When travelling in adverse weather conditions, it’s just as important to keep an eye on travel info in case your planned route is no longer viable.

We’d recommend sticking on the local radio station for regular travel updates or having any passengers keep an eye on live updates from travel news websites.

Wet roads can significantly increase your stopping distance. The Highway Code states that stopping distances in wet weather are at least double those on dry roads.

There is no fixed speed reduction that applies to every wet-weather situation, so adjust your speed according to the conditions. Slow down if visibility is reduced, the road is flooded, or there is standing water, and make sure you can stop safely within the distance you can see to be clear.

You should also increase the distance between you and the vehicle in front. The Highway Code recommends at least doubling the normal two-second gap on wet roads.

Heavy rain can significantly reduce visibility, both for you and for other road users. If visibility is seriously reduced, you must use headlights. The Highway Code generally considers visibility to be seriously reduced when you cannot see for more than 100 metres.

Using dipped headlights can also help other road users see you in poor conditions. However, you should not use rear fog lights simply because it is raining; they should only be used when visibility is seriously reduced and must be switched off when visibility improves.

First things first is to check that your windscreen wipers are working properly and can function at all speeds. If the rain picks up, you’re going to need to stick them on fast wiping to make sure you’re able to keep your eyes on the road.

Rainy and windy weather can increase the amount of road spray that comes off the road, easily covering your windscreen. Ensuring you have a full tank of windscreen wiper fluid will help you easily remove any dirt or debris.

Make sure your windscreen wipers are working effectively and that the washer fluid reservoir is topped up before setting off. Heavy rain and road spray can quickly cover your windscreen with water, dirt and grime, making it harder to see.

If visibility deteriorates, use your wipers at an appropriate speed to keep the windscreen clear and maintain a good view of the road ahead.

It can be difficult to judge its depth, and water may conceal potholes or other hazards. Driving through deep water can also cause you to lose control or damage your vehicle.

If you encounter standing water, slow down and avoid it if it is safe to do so. Never deliberately drive quickly through floodwater, as this can create additional hazards for other road users and pedestrians.

You may have heard this term before and if not, you’ve likely seen it on the road. Aquaplaning happens when there is a build-up of water between your car and the road, meaning that your tyres are unable to grip the tarmac. This will take away any control you have over the vehicle and if you find yourself in this situation, it’s best to avoid harsh braking as you are likely to skid.

Instead, you should slowly reduce your speed until you regain control of the vehicle. Once you do, slowly navigate away from any pools of standing water to prevent this from happening again.

Whilst all the above tips on this list will help you prevent a breakdown, it’s a good idea to make sure you’re prepared if the unthinkable does happen.

Make sure you have a breakdown service you can call and that it covers the areas you’re planning to travel to. It’s also a good idea to pack waterproof clothing and umbrellas, as you’ll need to get out of your car and stand behind the safety barrier if you pull over on the motorway.

As the technology used in vehicles advances, drivers are able to take advantage of new and improved safety features. Many of those help with driving in what would otherwise be extremely tricky conditions.

If your car is a little outdated when it comes to performance-related features, it might just be time for an upgrade. Explore the range of new cars we have available here at JCT600 or give us a call if you need a hand when choosing.