The rainy weather seems to be in full swing and driving in the rain has become an unavoidable daily occurrence.
The past two months have brought the West Rand the most destructive hailstorms and unfortunately it is not about to get better.
The South African Weather Service forecasts more rain in Krugersdorp, Johannesburg and Pretoria for this week.
With the wet weather on our doorstep, Arrive Alive has some general tips on how to stay safe while driving during heavy rainstorms:
• Increase the three second rule to five-six seconds to maintain a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you.
• If it is raining and the roads are wet, slow down and take your foot off the accelerator and let your speed drop gradually. Never use the brakes suddenly because this may cause the car to skid.
• If you find that an oncoming vehicle is overtaking from the opposite direction and will not be likely to do it safely, slow down and be prepared to move to the left shoulder if necessary.
• Only move towards the shoulder if you are able to see clearly 150 metres ahead of you and keep in mind that pedestrians may be walking on the shoulder to avoid the mud next to the surface of the road.
• Beware of oil patches and do not panic nor jam on your brakes, just steer through.
• Always change to a lower gear before you take a bend, especially a sharp bend. Your speed should be at its slowest as you enter the bend and both your hands should be on the steering wheel as this gives you the most control when driving around a bend.
• Turn on your headlights.
• Be careful of other vehicles to the rear and the blind spot areas as they are especially difficult to see through rain-spattered windows.
• Use your low-beam headlights to see and be seen. Wait a short time after the rain begins before using your windshield wipers because the blades may smear.
• Be extra careful during the first hour after rain begins because grime and oil on the road surface mix with water to make the road slippery.
Related articles:
• Prepare for the rain and hailstorm
• Be more cautious when driving in wet weather
