Discovering your self driving in rain, particularly heavy rain, might be daunting- notably when you’re in a big car like a motorhome. Listed here are some professional ideas that will help you keep protected and in management in your street journey.
*We work exhausting to make this the very best motorhome journey weblog and street journey web site doable, stuffed with useful content material for you. The web site is supported by our readers, so when you purchase via hyperlinks on this web site we might earn a commission- at no additional price to you. All opinions stay our personal.
When you discover this submit helpful, you’ll be able to additionally deal with us to a espresso – we promise to take pleasure in it whereas creating extra helpful content material like this- we’d even bask in a biscuit (or two!)
Driving in Heavy Rain- the issue
Be honest- do you decelerate a lot whereas driving within the rain? Do you modify your driving type in any respect?
Do you permit additional room for braking, even when it’s not raining that arduous? Or maintain the steering wheel extra rigorously?
Apparently, we mechanically regulate our expectations and driving type in snow, fog or ice, however not a lot in rain.
Again in 2016, the Highways England launched a “Rain Kills” warning to motorists within the hope to scale back these unhappy statistics.
How harmful is driving within the rain?
Based on Highways England, each pedestrians and different street customers are 30 instances extra prone to be killed or injured on the roads when it’s raining, fairly than in snow or icy circumstances.
Most of you studying this can have already got your driving licence (and doubtless had it for some time!) We’ve all pushed in moist climate circumstances and (hopefully!) stayed unscathed. In spite of everything, a whole lot of that is frequent sense and being accountable for the car always.
Nevertheless it by no means hurts to have a refresher on driving within the rain security tips- ESPECIALLY if you will be driving a much bigger car than traditional (like a motorhome…)
How a lot slower must you drive within the rain?
Even doing the velocity restrict might be harmful in rain, particularly very heavy rain and even after intervals of moist climate, when there might be massive puddles and deep water on the street.
The important thing factor is how a lot house you permit between you and the car in entrance.
Stopping distances improve considerably (over twice as lengthy) when the street floor is wet- that’s assuming you’ll be able to cease and the automobile doesn’t simply aquaplane when you brake too exhausting.
There is no such thing as a exhausting or quick rule saying how a lot slower it is best to drive within the rain. Some nations, like France, have two velocity limits on their main motorways- one for regular climate and one for wet circumstances. (130km vs 110km/ hour)
Driving within the rain security tips- earlier than you set off
Step one to staying protected on the roadways is to grasp and plan for upcoming climate circumstances. This helps you forecast climate circumstances on your journey, permitting you to plan forward.
For instance, if you already know upfront you can be driving in heavy rain, you can also make positive to:
- have your windscreen wiper blades changed with new blades
- have your windshield wiper fluid upgraded to at least one which naturally aids your windshield in repelling water.
- Test tyres for satisfactory tread depth (and discover out when you want winter tyres fitted)
- Test tyre strain is correct- this can assist with friction on the street.
- Often, damp causes issues, particularly in older automobiles. Test your electrical programs and guarantee all car lights are working: headlights, brake lights (tail lights), indicators, fog lights and hazard lights
(Everyone knows we must be doing that earlier than each journey anyway… proper? Don’t depend on a intelligent car system to inform you when a bulb is out- go examine them manually earlier than your subsequent street journey.)
How you can Keep Secure When Driving in Heavy Rain
I requested Richard Jackson, from WorldWeatherOnline to provide us his high ideas for driving safely in rain.
It may be exhausting work driving in heavy rain, particularly in case you are travelling in a brand new location. Unknown roadways, sudden curves, diminished field of regard and different hazards is usually a recipe for catastrophe for these unprepared and never driving sensibly for the climate.
There are a number of security precautions which must be noticed, even when driving in gentle rain. These are issues you are able to do to make sure you and your passenger’s security throughout daytime or at night time.
Within the occasion that you simply encounter unhealthy climate whereas driving, bear in mind these security ideas:
- Use your headlights and your windshield wipers. Not solely will utilizing these enable you to to see higher however having your headlights on will make you extra seen to different drivers.
- Drive extra slowly than traditional. It doesn’t matter what the velocity restrict signal says, keep away from high-speed driving and cut back the automobile’s velocity till you might be comfy. This can even maintain you from hydroplaning on any standing water chances are you’ll come throughout.
- Depart plenty of braking room between you and the automobile in entrance of you. Once we have been first studying to drive, we have been at all times conscious of the “one automobile size” rule. As we get extra assured, we regularly let this lapse. Throughout rain, it is strongly recommended to go away additional house. When you’re driving a motorhome, depart much more house.
- Don’t slam in your brakes. That is one other option to skid throughout the street, or hydroplane. You may lose management of your automobile on this scenario and find yourself in an accident. As a substitute, press the brake pedal firmly however steadily.
- Try to keep away from standing water– that is the best option to keep away from aquaplaning. Try to comply with the ‘tracks’ of the car forward of you. (Simply out of interest- hydroplaning & aquaplaning are precisely the identical thing- skidding throughout the highest of water in a terrifying and not-very-controllable means.)
- When you do hydroplane, react calmly. Don’t slam in your brakes or yank the wheel. As a substitute, come off the accelerator and attempt to rigorously but firmly maintain your automobile headed within the path it’s imagined to go.
- Use built-in air flow choices (like air-con or heater vents on chilly) to de-fog your home windows. When you can’t see, pull over to keep away from an accident.
- Interact your mind. We frequently behave subconsciously, particularly in areas the place we’re comfy. If you’re getting into dangerous climate, use frequent sense and take care to be alert of your environment and conscious of the alternatives you make whereas driving.
- Don’t use cruise management. When you by chance hydroplane, cruise management will make the automobile go sooner. It’s best to be accountable for as a lot of the automobile as you’ll be able to throughout wet climate
- Take additional precautions when merging. Your visibility might be extra restricted, so make use of all of your mirrors and you’ll want to examine over your shoulder. If somebody is within the automobile with you, they may help search for automobiles. Clearly sign earlier than you progress over.
- Test and examine AGAIN for cyclists and motorcyclists. They’re simply hidden by rain spray. Ensure you point out clearly and wait a few seconds earlier than you modify lanes.
- Don’t use your cell phone whereas driving. If there are street closures, pull over to examine your navigation.
- In case your automobile does breakdown, pull as far off the facet of the street as doable and use your hazard lights. However bear in mind you would be very exhausting to see, so it’s greatest to get out of the car as rapidly as doable if protected to take action.
Staying Secure Whereas Driving within the Rain at Evening
Listed here are some additional ideas that will help you keep protected in case you are driving in heavy rain in the course of the night time:
- Give massive vehicles or buses additional house. When you comply with them too carefully, you’ll get caught within the wake of their tyres. All of the water splashing up off the street will enormously lower your visibility.
- Bear in mind that roads could have a glare at night time and should have an effect on your visibility. Decelerate when approaching oncoming automobiles, because the glare from their lights can even lower your visibility.
- If there’s a storm with lightning, take into account that you’ll really feel quickly blinded by these lights and regulate your velocity accordingly.
- By no means drive past the place you’ll be able to see. A curve or a hidden puddle might spell catastrophe, so at all times be trying forward of the place you might be.
Renting a Car for Your Travels
Pondering of renting a motorhome or automobile on your subsequent street journey?
It’s a superb concept for a vacation (listed here are 12 PERFECT street journey vacation spot concepts in Europe), however you’ll want to examine the situation of the car while you accumulate it.
If you can be motorhoming in winter (and never someplace sunny like these 7 warmest locations in mainland Spain!) make certain that your car comes with applicable winter tyres. If you’re in a automobile, be sure you know in case you have traction management or not.
READ MORE: 10 EPIC UK winter street journeys you’ll LOVE
Even in summer season, if heavy rains are forecast, skip the sports activities automobile and go together with one thing extra sensible. Additionally you’ll want to focus on with the rental place the situation of wiper blades, headlights and different attributes which will support you in navigating safely via heavy downpours.
Additionally, be sure you have satisfactory journey safety on your subsequent journey to make sure towards injury or accidents.
RELATED: France new winter tyre law- does your car comply?
Irrespective of whether or not you’re renting a car or taking your individual, I hope these driving ideas have helped you’re feeling extra assured to drive in wet circumstances.
When you bear in mind nothing else, bear in mind to decelerate and switch your lights on. If doubtful, and if the rain is absolutely heavy, pull over someplace protected and wait it out. There’s no disgrace in being cautious if it helps stop an accident.
When you aren’t going to be utilizing your motorhome or camper throughout winter, please bear in mind to organize it for winter storage to keep away from injury which insurance coverage firms might not cowl. See our motorhome winter storage guidelines right here.
How else can I enable you to as we speak?
