Road Safety During Rainy Weather

Have you ever noticed your wiper blades leaving streaky marks on your windscreen and they are not nearly due for replacement?

The following occurs when your wiper blade no longer makes proper contact with your windshield:

How to clean your wiper blades effectively?

• Step 1
  Make sure your vehicle is clean and remove as much dirt as possible from your wiper blade.
• Step 2
  Apply a small amount of washer fluid/hot soapy water on a cloth and wipe several times over the wiper blade until there is no more dirt visible.
• Step 3
  Wipe with a clean cloth to ensure all dirt is removed. Apply a small amount of rubbing alcohol to a cloth and wipe excess soap/residue off the blade.

Tips for driving in bad weather conditions:

 Always drive with your headlights on, especially when it’s misty/rainy. This will increase your own visibility as well as other drivers’ visibility.

 Avoid heavy braking, and don’t drive with your cruise control on as this prevents you from having full control over your vehicle.

 Use your windshield wipers for a clear vision on the road.

 Ensure there is a driving distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.

 Beware of puddles/still standing water on the road, as driving through water can cause hydroplaning.

Have you ever driven on the road in heavy rain and all the sudden you slowly start losing control over your vehicle as your wheels start to swerve or slide across the road? Or maybe you have driven through a puddle too quickly and you feel your vehicle swerve to the side.

Read on how hydroplaning works and how to handle your vehicle in such a scenario to avoid an accident.

What causes Hydroplaning?

Hydroplaning occurs when a layer of water builds up between your vehicle’s tyres and the road. Causing your vehicle to lose traction with the road and swerve from side to side, leaving you with almost no control over your vehicle.

What should you do if your vehicle is Hydroplaning, now what?

• Remain Calm. When you start to feel you are slowly losing control over your vehicle, it is best to remain as calm as possible and take a deep breath.
• Do not step on the brakes. Instead, try to elevate your foot off the accelerator to reduce your speed. If you need to make an immediate stop to avoid an accident, brake gently until the vehicle comes to a stop.
• Take control of the vehicle. Firmly hold the steering wheel, when your vehicle starts to swerve in a direction, do not turn your steering wheel in the opposite direction, instead turn the steering wheel to the direction you are sliding/swerving until you start to feel your wheels regain traction.

How to Avoid Hydroplaning?

• Avoid divining through still standing water/puddles.
• Reduce your speed.
• Ensure your tyres are properly inflated.
• Do not use cruise control when driving on wet roads.