When I first learned how to drive back in college, I always looked forward to driving in the rain. My car didn’t have good air-conditioning back then so driving in the rain made things cooler. My experience with cars was next to nil, the only “lessons” I had on driving was from playing Gran Turismo. So I didn’t really know how the rain would affect vehicle handling except that it would be slippery. But with the adolescent teen with raging hormones that I was back then, driving in the rain was always a bit on the edge. I used to think car handling was the same, wet or dry, until I tried taking a corner going around 60kph (not that fast, but like I said… no skill whatsoever). When I turned the steering wheel the car kept going straight… so I panicked and slammed on the brakes… instead of slowing down, the car still kept on going straight… until it landed on a ditch. That was my first real lesson in driving in the wet.
Driving in the rain can actually be both relaxing and safe, if you know what you are doing. To save you guys from the expensive lesson I had in the wet, I’m going to list down the most important points that I have learned through my experience of driving and racing in the rain.
Extra care for the first few minutes. The first few minutes after it starts raining is the most dangerous part, when you’re on the road. This is the time where the dirt and oil in the asphalt will float up to the surface. This is like driving on ice and you will have very little grip. So take it super easy during the first few minutes of a downpour. Most especially when you’re in a motorbike, low sides are very common during these times.
Check tires. Know how to measure tire thread thickness by using a coin. If they’re gone, find a good tire with good water displacement characteristics. This will help you get that extra grip on wet conditions and also help prevent aquaplaning when running on the highway.
Check your wipers. Remember that wiper blades are made of rubber that degrade over time. Especially if you regularly park under the sun. As a general rule, wipers that leave streaks on your windshield needs to be replaced. It is important to keep those wipers in tip top shape as you will rely heavily on them during the rainy season.
Turn on your lights. Not your hazard lights. Your hazard lights should be reserved for those special occasions where you are stopped on the road and are a hazard to other road users or if you are in an emergency situation. You don’t use it for visibility when raining. Instead, turn on your regular lights if you feel that you need that extra visibility.
When in doubt, don’t. This one is simple… if you think you’re not safe on the road especially on a huge downpour, just find a place to park and wait it out. Just don’t park in a flood prone area. This also goes for wading in flood waters, if you think you won’t make it, then park and wait it out. No sense damaging your car or causing an accident just because you “thought” you could make it through.
Be Smooth. Smooth steering movements, smooth shifting, smooth acceleration and braking all help keeping your vehicle in control in the wet. Even if you are travelling at a slow pace, sudden braking will still destabilize your car in the wet even if you have ABS.
Most importantly, keep your speed in check. This is the single most effective way of being safe in wet weather conditions. When visibility and grip are low on the road, slow down and take it easy. That five minutes that you save from rushing from point A to point B isn’t worth risking your life for.