Stay safe during heavy rain

Residents throughout the City of Johannesburg, including Roodepoort and surrounding areas, have experienced the aftermath of heavy rainfall and stormy weather recently.

With more of the same weather expected, it is inevitable that at some point you will be caught in a sudden and unexpected downpour while driving.

Arrive Alive urges motorists to follow these helpful tips to stay safe on the road during a heavy rainstorm:

– Maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you by increasing the three-second rule to five seconds.
– Slow down when the roads are wet during rainfall. Reduce speed gradually by taking your foot off the accelerator.
– Never brake suddenly, it may cause the vehicle to skid.
– When a car is overtaking from the opposite direction in an unsafe manner, slow down and be prepared to move to the left shoulder if necessary.
– You should only move to the left shoulder if you can see at least 150 metres ahead, as pedestrians may be walking on the shoulder.
– Do not panic or brake suddenly when you see oil patches – just steer through as most of the patches are small.
– Before taking a sharp bend in the road, always switch to a lower gear. When entering the bend your speed should be at its slowest and you should have both hands on the wheel to ensure that you remain in control of the vehicle.
– Always turn on your headlights.
– Watch out for vehicles behind you and in blind-spot areas, as it is difficult to see them through rain-spattered windows.
– To ensure visibility, use your low beam headlights.
– To avoid smearing your windscreen, do not turn on your windscreen wipers immediately after rain has begun falling.
– You need to be extra careful in the first half hour of rain, as grime and oil on the road surface mix with the water, making the road surface slippery.

Remember, it is better to be late than dead on time.

Read more here:

Home damaged in storm

Last night’s storm damage

Roodepoort escapes severe hail storms