Monsoon has covered almost entire part of the country and bag packers and hikers are gearing up for weekend trekking and road trips in the rain. But there are certain things that need to be kept in mind before setting off for these trips as travelling during the season could be dangerous with clogged up and potholed roads. So we decided to compile a list of driving tips for safe highway and city driving in the rains.
Wipers – Want to see clearly in the rains? Replace your wipers once a year, especially during the monsoon season. Wiper blades in bad condition don't clear water from the windshield very well and distort your view. This is can be dangerous on days when it is pouring heavily. Heavy rain can overload the wiper blades, allowing an almost continuous sheet of water to flow over the screen. Give the poor wiper some rest and consider pulling over till rain becomes light!
Brakes and Tires – Check your brakes to see if they are saturated. Brakes easily fail in the rain and if they do, there would literally be no protection in case your car skids. Be sure they are pulling evenly on all wheels before building up speed again. Also check for tires before driving as bold tires significantly reduce traction wet roads.
AC is a must – It’s raining, the weather is really cool and we are advising you to get your AC serviced. Puzzled? What you might think unnecessary may help you the most in the rainy season. Your car fogging up from the inside can be big pain in the rain. Just change the temperature setting to 'warm', direct the airflow towards the windscreen and change the ventilation setting to allow fresh air into the car. Though you might need to wear a jacket inside the car to stay warm but at least this will prevent you from opening the windows and getting wet.
When it skids – This is one of the most common experiences in the rain. You would often see a driver lose control of his car on a wet pavement. But just in case you did not know, skids can very easily be prevented. Just practice this.Drive slowly and carefully, especially on curves, brake before entering the curves. Steer and brake with a light touch. If you find yourself in a skid, remain calm, ease your foot off the gas, and carefully steer in the direction you want the front of the car to go.
Lastly, beware of driving in the rain, at night,if you have a black car!! This is because motorcycles and other dark-colored cars can be easily camouflaged amongst glistening raindrops on side windows and mirrors.
