A city which regularly treats you with heavy rain can cause difficulty while driving a car. Especially, when that rain calls for the city, Pune. Though most of us think to be as expert drivers, driving in a heavy rain can be risky and tricky as well. Here are some tips which can guide you and help you in some way or the other.
TRY TO PLAN AHEAD
In case of heavy rain, simply try to avoid it if possible. Only take necessary journeys and if there is an option for public transport, definitely go for it. If you are taking your car try to pre-plan so as to avoid the most hazardous and congested highways if possible.
SLOW DOWN
Make sure that you the control over the vehicle. If vision is poor, the reaction time is slower and slick road means that it is harder to stop. In order to prevent accidents, you drive slower than the actual limit may be 10 or even 20 kilometers per hour.
LOOK AHEAD, BRAKE EARLIER
Even a good eyesight does not work in heavy rain. It will also be harder to slow down in case of an emergency. Therefore, it is important to look well ahead and around you as you drive, so that you can anticipate upcoming hazards. Furthermore, you need to brake earlier and more gradually. This is a good safe driving technique, but in the rain it is crucial. Braking late can cause bring chaos and may lead to skidding, hydroplaning, and potential accidents.
TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS
Even in the daylight turn on your headlights because it becomes darker when raining heavily and also poor visibility. Turning on the headlights makes it easier for you to see and also others on the road to see you.
DON’T USE CRUISE CONTROL
The last thing that you want while driving through a tricky stretch of road in the rain is for the cruise control to kick in and cause the vehicle to accelerate. Always turn cruise control off when driving in the rain.
KEEP YOUR CAR MAINTAINED
Your ride allows you to drive safely only when you are careful with your car's maintenance. Always keep a check on the headlights, brakes wipers and the thread on your tires.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU START TO HYDROPLANE
Hydroplaning can be scary; here are some tips to prevent yourself from a serious accident.
–do not brake or turn suddenly.
— ease your foot off the gas until the vehicle slows and you can feel traction on the road again.
–turn your steering wheel in the direction of the skid. As you recover control, gently straighten the wheels.
–if you need to brake, do so gently, using a light pumping action if you don’t have anti-lock brakes.
This can act as a lifeguard for your ride if followed properly.