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Advice: Driving in the Rain

With autumn comes rain and stormy weather.

When hitting the road at this time of year, drivers should be particularly aware and follow some rules in order to avoid putting their own safety and that of others at risk.

Heavy rain can occur from one moment to the next or last over weeks. The humidity, restricted visibility, strong winds and floodings that come along are all challenges a driver has to be prepared for.

So, below you find an overview of the most important things to remember when driving in autumn rain.

Regulate the heater controls

Before hitting the road, you should prep your heater controls in order to be ready for the condensation that covers the windshields in no time when it rains. Rather than setting your controls while driving and diverting your focus from the road, you should have this set from the start.

Drive slow

The humidity increases the stopping distance, so moderate yuor velocity. Also double the space between you and the vehicle ahead, this might not only prevent a crash but also keeps water splashing onto your windscreen.

Plan ahead

Try to foresee what is coming up next and keep your focus on the road. Planning ahead allows you to drive without abrupt maneuvers that can backfire on wet and slippery surfaces.

Be aware of strong winds

The autumn storms can bring strong gusts of wind that hit the car hard and suddenly change directions. You need to react quick to regain control, so alsways keep your hands on the steering whee, counter-steer and be aaware of other vehicles that might change their track suddenly.

Careful with Cruise control

In case of aquaplaning, cruise control systems can cause problems, so turn this assistance system off when driving on wet roads.

Put your lights on

Even during daytime, keep your lights turned on if it is raining. If you need your wipers, you should also turn on the headlights to make sure you are visible in traffic and have a good overview yourself.

In case of flooding on the road...

...drive on the highest section of the road, avoid swamping other cars and pedestrians. Also avoid driving into water i you an not see how or where to get out again. Once in deep water, keep your foot on the accelerator to avoid water entering the exhaus pipe. As soon as you are back ashore, dry the brakes before you need them. This is done by lightly applying the brake as you drive along for a few seconds.