When Driving In Rain, When Does The Road Become The Most Slippery?

Driving in the rain can quickly become an arduous task. The roads become slippery, and your tires don’t have such a good grip on the road. This may cause a road accident, costing you money or your life.

Knowing how to behave and drive in such a situation is crucial. Luckily, most good driving instructors take care of that in driving school. But still, it never hurts to know some additional information to make the right decision on the road.

When Driving In Rain, When Does The Road Become The Most Slippery?

Rain’s only dangerous in the first minutes after it begins. It is due to the small puddles that form on the surface, gather up oil, dust, and other debris, and turn into ice if it’s especially cold. Even a thin layer of water on the road (less than 0.04″) reduces tire traction by half, and heavy rain reduces it even more. Depending on the intensity, the puddles will take some time to clear. 

New tires have better traction than worn ones, and summer tires are preferable to winter ones. Summer tire tread has water-repellent channels, which prevent aquaplaning (loss of wheel traction with the wet road surface).

When driving at high speed on a wet road, the motorist may feel that the steering wheel is not as responsive. This can easily make beginners panic, which increases the risk of an accident.

On wet road surfaces, the vehicle’s braking distance increases. If the road is not empty, it may lead to a car crash.

Ten Rules For Driving In The Rain

• When it starts to rain, immediately reduce the speed. All maneuvers should be smooth, without sudden acceleration and braking. 
• The distance between vehicles should be increased compared to driving on a dry road.
• If you are caught in a rainstorm, and the visibility is limited, which prevents you from driving, turn on the hazard light, slowly reach a wide paved roadside, or find a bay. It is dangerous to stay in your lane. 
• Water suspended in the air can create a veil that makes it difficult to see oncoming traffic. A dipped headlight will alert other drivers about your presence on the highway. 
• Maintain an optimal constant speed that allows you to brake immediately and safely in the event of a sudden obstacle or hindrance on the track. 
• Don’t drive into puddles if possible to avoid aquaplaning. It is difficult to determine the depth of standing water by sight, and potholes and other nasty surprises may be hidden in the water. 
• If you encounter a big puddle, reduce speed as much as possible, drive slowly so as not to raise a wave, and do everything so the water wouldn’t get into the air intake. 
• If water gets into the brake shoe system, it reduces effectiveness. To avoid that, lightly press the brake pedal several times in quick succession or, in other words, “dry the brakes”. It will help restore normal functioning.
• When driving near fields or adjacent dirt roads, remember that agricultural vehicles can leave nasty surprises behind and, thus, increase the chances of a road accident.
• Fallen leaves lying on the road carry a hidden threat. They are like banana peels. Take measures when you see a road section, reduce speed in advance, and do not make abrupt maneuvers.

What Else Can You Do?

Before you get in the driver's seat, make sure your windshield, side mirrors, and headlights are clean. Periodically check the washer tank for sufficient fluid. Sweep up the leaves or tree seeds that have fallen on the wiper blades, which should be changed regularly. 

Tires play an essential role in the car’s stability on wet surfaces, so choose them responsibly and monitor tread depth. An air conditioner will help quickly cope with window fogging inside the car interior, as it dries the air when switched on.

Summary

Don’t get behind the wheel when it first starts to rain. Wait things out, as the road will pose fewer hazards to the driver. However, when you finally get in the driver’s seat, always keep your car at a speed of 31.07 mph, and maintain a safe distance from other drivers in front of you.

Related Resources

• Research a Vehicle
• Cars for Sale
• Sell My Car
• Compare Cars
• Car Finder Tool
• Car Ratings
• Shopping Guides
• New Car Previews
• Expert Car Reviews