Tips for driving in the rain

The monsoons have officially started, and as most of us might have experienced in the past, driving a car in pouring rain isn't the easiest of things to do. But here are a few pointers to keep you ahead of the curve...

Light art

Running with the headlights or fog lights on in rainy conditions makes your car more visible to oncoming traffic, while the tail lights will help those behind you spot your car in the spray from your rear tyres. The more easily others can see you, the safer you'll be.

See through

Keep your windshield washer fluid topped up during rains and use soap water preferably, as it'll do a better job of clearing muck which gets on to the windshield from the spray  thrown up by the tyres of the vehicle in front of you.

Easy Steer

With the lack of traction that wet roads offer, it is very important to keep your steering inputs smooth. Any sudden attempt to change direction will lead to massive lateral weight transfer, causing the tyres to lose grip, and your car can easily spin out 

of control.

Brake Dance

Just like steering input, your brake input needs to be just as smooth on wet roads. Don't slam on the brakes, instead give short, but firm, presses to the brake pedal. Also, start braking much earlier than you would in dry conditions.

Spray fray

When driving in the rain, the biggest enemy of visibilty, more than the rain itself, is the spray from the vehicle ahead of you. To maintain decent visibilty in such conditions, maintain a longer distance from the vehicle ahead of you than you normally would. Take it easy and don't drive at the same speed you would in the dry. You'll also have to be more aware of what the vehicle in front of you is upto, as wet roads mean larger braking distances.

Puddle muddle

While splashing through puddles in one's car might seem the most fun thing to do, it is in fact quite dangerous. Hitting the water at high speeds can cause the wheels to slow down suddenly and unevenly, upsetting the car, which could even send it spinning. And then there's the off chance that the puddle you're about to go through hides a nasty pothole.