THE SA Weather Services have issued a warning of heavy rain to continue through the day (Tuesday), with affected areas including King Cetshwayo, Umhlabuyalingana, Ulundi, Mandeni, Nongoma, and Maphumulo.
‘The heavy rainfall expected today which may lead to localised flooding of roads, settlements as well localised damage to mud-based houses,’ said their statement.
‘This may result in closure of roads crossing low water bridges, as well as difficult driving conditions on dirt roads as well as minor motor vehicle accidents due to slippery roads and traffic disruption.
‘Mudslides are a possibility alongside roads and steep hills and soil erosion.’
Driving in wet weather: Safety tips
Avoid Cruise Control
Most modern cars feature cruise control.
This feature works great in dry conditions, but when used in wet conditions, the chance of losing control of the vehicle can increase.
To prevent loss of traction, the driver may need to reduce the car’s speed by lifting off the accelerator, which cannot be accomplished when cruise control is engaged.
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When driving in wet-weather conditions, it is important to concentrate fully on every aspect of driving.
Avoiding cruise control will allow the driver more options to choose from when responding to a potential loss-of-traction situation, thus maximizing your safety.
Slow Down and Leave Room
Slowing down during wet weather driving can be critical to reducing a car’s chance of hydroplaning, when the tires rise up on a film of water.
With as little as 1/12 inch of water on the road, tires have to displace a gallon of water per second to keep the rubber meeting the road.
Drivers should reduce their speed to correspond to the amount of water on the roadway.
At speeds as low as 35 mph, new tires can still lose some contact with the roadway.
To reduce chances of hydroplaning, drivers should slow down, avoid hard braking or turning sharply and drive in the tracks of the vehicle ahead of you.
Also, it’s important for motorists to allow ample stopping distance between cars by increasing the following distance of the vehicle in front of them and beginning to slow down to stop for intersections, turns and other traffic early.
Responding to a Skid
Even careful drivers can experience skids.
If a driver feels their car begin to skid, it’s important to not panic and follow these basic steps:
• Continue to look and steer in the direction in which the driver wants the car to go.
• Avoid slamming on the brakes as this will further upset the vehicle’s balance and make it harder to control.
• If you feel the car begin to skid, continue to look and steer in the direction you want the car to go.
• Don’t panic, and avoid slamming on the brakes to maintain control.
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