How to avoid fright when driving in rain and wind

Reduced visibility, less grip, more room to brake and the risk of the occurrence of the dreaded ‘aquaplaning’, the main consequences of rain that we face when we take the car

Heavy rain showers will occur on a large part of the peninsula these days. For this reason, and although during these days it is advisable to drive as little as possible and avoid dangerous areas with reduced visibility, reduced compliance, tunnels, etc., it is important to know how to drive in these types of situations . Especially since in
seven out of ten accidents in bad weatherit was raining according to the General Directorate of Traffic (DGT), a case study that makes us think whether we can really drive when it rains.

First of all, keep in mind that if you have a dirty windshield with splashing water, mud and grease, when operating the wipers,
dirty layer that obstructs the view. And if you don’t take precautions against misting up your windows, you can get some serious outward visibility.

Likewise, the first drops, mixed with the dust and grease from the asphalt, will make the adhesion critical, but it will improve somewhat as it continues to rain and become more even. The more water collects on the surface, the longer the braking distance will be. But be careful because if it rains heavily or if there are “bathtubs” on the road, the car can “aquaplane” and skid without direction. In addition, when driving through areas with puddles of water, humidity can affect the brake pads and the effectiveness of the brakes.

How to behave? To improve visibility, the DGT emphasizes that road lights should be turned on to make yourself more visible to others; even the rear fog light when it rains very hard and the cars throw up a dense curtain of water. Prevent splashes by increasing the safety distance; and when you activate the windshield wipers, do so with plenty of fluid. Before you start, you must clean all elements of the car that allow you to see (windshield, mirrors and headlights) and be seen (turn signals and the entire lighting system. And to prevent fogging, activate all the power of the air conditioning or the air conditioning and aim the beam at the windows, a cloth can be a good addition.

To adapt to the loss of grip, it is essential to increase the safety distance and reduce speed, especially when cornering; If you must brake without ABS, try to brake in a straight line and release the brakes before steering. And if “aquaplaning” occurs and the car skids, hold the steering wheel firmly, do not make sudden movements, do not brake (even with ABS) and gently remove your foot from the accelerator. On the other hand, check from time to time that your brakes are working properly and if they fail due to water or moisture, dry them off by repeatedly and gently stepping on the brake pedal.

If, despite everything, your car
runs out of direction and begins to skid, the DGT indicates what to do: hold course, correct trajectory losses as much as possible and avoid accelerating or braking. Experts recommend going full throttle to reduce wheelspin and maintain a steady speed to avoid mass transfer and possible skidding.

When the wind is blowing hard, or as soon as we notice the vehicle swaying for the first time due to gusts, slowing down is the best antidote to problems caused by the wind, as changes in direction are less critical, rocking is more manageable and prevents the vehicle from losing traction. When an unexpected jerk or rocking of the vehicle is detected, if we look for trees along the road, we will be able to detect sooner if we have entered an area with high winds, either in a mountain pass or in flat areas.

Wind gusts are especially noticeable in direction, with small direction changes that must be corrected with the steering wheel to maintain track within the track. When we slow down, these changes in direction will be minor and by holding the steering wheel firmly and keeping an eye on where we want the vehicle to go, we can face gusts without fear.

Another critical situation can arise when we overtake a truck. In this case, we must anticipate the possible presence of crosswind gusts that change the trajectory of our vehicle, especially when driving at high speeds. The truck can act as a “guard rail” while we drive parallel during the overtaking maneuver. The most normal thing is that on a windy day, as soon as we pass a vehicle larger than ours, we notice the ‘punch’ of the crosswind. In this situation, you have to hold the handlebars firmly in the expectation that the wind may change our trajectory.

And the same recommendation applies if we have crossed a wooded area and entered a clear stretch of road, or if we have left an area of ​​buildings to drive onto a road where there is no shelter from the wind.

Also, if the wind gusts are very strong and extreme, for example over mountain viaducts, drive very carefully, reduce speed and use low gears to increase engine speed and have reserve power to cope with the gusts. Upwind it takes the power of the vehicle, not the speed. Wind gusts are the most dangerous when it comes to causing a traffic accident. Despite efforts to improve vehicle aerodynamics, they are still very sensitive to crosswinds. The dangerous effects of the wind are felt when crossing a bridge, exiting a tunnel, driving past remote buildings, leaving the shelter of a forest or overtaking large trucks.

Source: La Verdad

Ida

I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.