That’s right, summer is over and it’s starting to get wet out there! As well as having to put on a jumper and take a brolly with you when you go out, the winter weather also means driving conditions have changed. With changing conditions comes the need for greater awareness on the roads to make sure we all arrive safely to our destinations.
In Western Australia, we have such long periods of dry, warm weather that it’s so easy forget that driving in wet conditions is an entirely different experience. This can lead to some habits forming that could be a little dangerous when the rains arrive and the roads become a little bit slippery.
There are a number of things to look out for when wet weather driving, and most of us have a basic understanding that such conditions require a lot more caution on the road than in dry weather. But it’s always good to refresh our memories to prepare for wet weather hazards and to remind ourselves of how best to avoid them.
Beware of greasy roads
We don’t get a lot of rain here in Perth, and what we do get is usually confined to a short winter period. This means our roads are susceptible to build ups of engine oils and other greasy fluids that come from our cars. These add up to form a layer on top of the bitumen that gets very slippery when the rain starts to fall.
Road users therefore need to be aware that their vehicle’s handling abilities are significantly compromised. Braking distances are longer, and cornering speeds are reduced. To account for this, it’s necessary for us all to leave a little bit more of a gap between ourselves and the car in front to account for that increased stopping distance. It’s also worth slowing down a little more around corners because once you lose grip while turning, it’s very hard to regain control to avoid an accident.
Slow down during a heavy downpour
One of the most difficult hazards to deal with is the reduced visibility that comes when the heavens really open. When the rain is particularly heavy, visibility can be reduced to only a few metres, which means if you’re driving at full speed, you have no chance of stopping in time if there is an incident ahead. Driving blind is one of the most dangerous hazards on the road, so slow down to a point where visibility improves. If the rain is extremely heavy, your best bet is to pull over to somewhere safe and sit it out for a few minutes. Downpours in Perth rarely last more than a minute or two.
To add to these visibility issues, you may also find yourself experiencing fog build up on your windscreen. Giving it a blast with either hot or cold air but with the air conditioning on will fix this, but it’s not immediate, so between the heavy rain and fog build up, you’re in a pretty hazardous situation. This means you need to reduce your speed until visibility improves.
Check your tyres
New cars like the Skoda Octavia come with all sorts of modern safety features, but in wet conditions, your tyres should be considered the number one safety feature of the car.
The legal tread depth in Australia is 1.5mm. This tread is what redistributes water away from the rubber that contacts the road. The deeper the tread, the more water the tyre can displace, and this helps maximise grip.
A lot of the time, we replace only two tyres at a time because front and back tend to wear at a different rate. Your tyre fitter will usually make sure the best tyres are on the front wheels as they are the ones that steer you and stop you, but it’s always worth checking to make sure.
The tread on your tyres is the only thing that is keeping your car from aquaplaning and hurtling off the road completely out of control, so it’s vital that they are in good shape heading into winter.
Avoid puddles
We know, it’s quite fun going through a big puddle and making a splash. Leaving aside the risk to pedestrians, it’s quite a dangerous thing to do from the driver’s perspective. Hitting a big puddle on the left side of the road will very suddenly pull your car further in that direction and potentially into the curb, causing an accident. You don’t know how deep the puddle ahead is, so there’s no way of knowing how much of a risk it is. If you can avoid it, then do so. If you can’t then slow down and approach it with caution, and be aware of other cars around you, should you need to take evasive action.
Turn on your headlights
This helps other motorists see you when visibility is poor. It’s not just up to you to avoid other vehicles, it’s up to everybody to make their presence known.
Be safe out there and adopt a more cautious driving style when in challenging conditions. Sometimes, your dry weather driving is simply too dangerous in wet conditions so allow yourself more time to get to your destination so that you can exercise a little more caution. So, be aware of these hazards to make sure everybody on the road gets home safe.
