Tips for travelling in wet weather

More bad weather, resulting in further flooded roads and potholes posing as puddles, has morphed the city into a driver’s nightmare.

Although Joburg’s temperamental weather has become less of a surprise, motorists have yet to adapt to driving in these poor conditions.

The Johannesburg Roads Agency has urged motorists to obey road signs and traffic signals and to avoid speeding due to wet and slippery roads.

The agency emphasised the need for motorists to obey road closures as a result of flooded bridges or unsafe driving conditions.

Meanwhile, the Automobile Association has noted that poor visibility and reduction in vehicles’ road holding were the biggest challenges.

According to the association, minimum braking distances may be up to 50 percent longer on wet roads than in the dry, and spray from other vehicles can reduce forward vision and result in delayed observation of hazards.

It advised road users to take note of the following hints in order to safely navigate the ongoing wet conditions:

• · Ensure that windscreen wipers are in good condition. Often wiper rubbers perish and crack due to harsh sunlight, hampering visibility in the rain.
• · Clean the inside of your windows thoroughly. Unclean windows can speed up the rate at which they mist up and make visibility poorer.
• · Adapt your speed to the road surface and visibility conditions so that you are always able to stop within a safe distance.
• · Extend your following distance so that you are able to safely brake and steer in the event of an emergency. In wet conditions, five or six seconds at minimum.
• · Avoid harsh braking or swerving wherever possible – in vehicles fitted with electronic driver assistance it can put the vehicle out of control.
• · By law, motorists are required to treat a robot that isn’t operational as a stop street. However, be aware of motorists behind you when stopping for dead robots at night if they clearly do not intend to stop, be ready to move or swerve out of the way.
• · When faced with water-logged areas, get out of the vehicle and evaluate the conditions. Use a pole or the like to determine the depth of the water before attempting to pass through it.
• · Be wary of the pace at which the water is flowing before attempting to cross it. Even shallow water can sweep a vehicle away if it is flowing fast enough.
• · If there is sufficient water on the road it’s impossible to see potholes but motorists should be travelling slowly enough that potholes should not cause serious damage. However, it is best to completely avoid puddles in order to escape potential potholes.

Meanwhile, pedestrians should also guard themselves against road incidents:

• · Wear high visibility clothing.
• · Walk on the pavement rather than the road.
• · Walk facing oncoming traffic.
• · Do not look down to avoid the rain as this hampers your awareness of traffic.
• · Be aware of slippery roads and pavements, which increase the risk of losing your footing and falling into traffic.