From weekend road trips to cross-country adventures, Australia is a big country to explore so it’s only natural that long-distance driving is a standard part of many journeys. While cruising along with the sun beating down is nice, when the skies open up and the roads become slippery, what was once a leisurely drive can quickly turn into a dangerous experience. Wet conditions demand heightened attention and a modified driving approach to ensure safety. Read on for a few simple tips will help you drive long distances in the rain safely, and confidently.
Check Your Tyres – The First Line of Defence
Tyres are your primary contact with the road, and in wet conditions, having adequate tread is absolutely crucial. Make sure you check your tread depth regularly and replace tyres that are worn out. Deeper treads channel water away from the tyre, reducing the risk of hydroplaning, and keeping you and other motorists safer.
Tyres also need to be properly inflated, especially when the weather turns nasty. Ensure your tyres are inflated to the right pressure according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Under-inflated tyres have less grip and can lead to increased stopping distances. A tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) can help you maintain adequate inflation at all times. Alerting the driver to any significant inflation changes, you can be sure your tyres are always ready to handle both dry and wet roads safely.
Maintain Visibility – See and Be Seen
Old or worn-out wiper blades can streak and smear, severely limiting your visibility. Upgrade to the latest and greatest wiper blades, and watch as they effortlessly sweep away the rain, leaving you with a crystal-clear view of the road ahead, even in the heavies of storms.
Rain often causes windows to fog up. Use your vehicle’s demisting settings effectively, combining air conditioning with the demist function to keep windows clear. In wet conditions, it’s safer to drive with your headlights on, even during the day. This not only helps you see better but also makes your vehicle more visible to other motorists.
Adjust Your Driving Style – Slow and Steady
Wet roads are slippery, and it takes longer to stop. Reduce your speed to give yourself more time to react to unexpected situations. You should also leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you as this creates a buffer zone and reduces the risk of a rear-end collision if sudden braking is necessary.
When the rain is teeming down, make sure you avoid any sudden movements. Keep acceleration, braking, and steering gentle as this will help maintain traction and control. Abrupt actions can cause skidding, and skidding in the wet can lead to serious accidents.
Avoid Hydroplaning – Glide, Don’t Slide
If you have yourself cruising down the highway and then suddenly feel like you’re riding a magical water slide – this is hydroplaning, where a layer of water has built up between your tyres and the road, causing a loss of traction. Your vehicle may slide uncontrollably, similar to skating on ice.
To avoid hydroplaning, try to drive in the tracks of others. Following the path cleared by the vehicles ahead of you reduces the amount of water your tyres need to displace. Large puddles can hide deep water that may cause hydroplaning so steer clear of puddles when possible. Sudden acceleration or deceleration increases the risk of hydroplaning so try to maintain a steady speed.
Plan and Prepare – Be Ready for Anything
Before setting off on a long distance drive, check the weather forecast along your route. Regardless of the season, any weather conditions can be thrown at you, especially if you are travelling thousands of kilometres and across borders. Knowing what to expect can help you prepare for varying conditions and may encourage you to take another route or schedule more breaks.
Know When to Pull Over – Safety First
Sometimes, rain can be so intense that visibility drops to near zero. In this case you’ll need to pull over and wait for the rain to lighten up rather than continuing to drive in dangerous conditions. Choose a safe location away from traffic, such as a rest area or a car park and turn on your hazard lights to alert other drivers of your presence.
Don’t let a rainstorm ruin your road trip! Sure, the weather may not be cooperating, but that’s just Mother Nature’s way of keeping things interesting. The next time you find yourself driving in a deluge, don’t despair. Follow these few easy tips and you’ll be sure to arrive safe and sound at your destination.
Safe T Tyre is Australia’s trusted supplier of high-quality tyre pressure monitoring systems. Helping to keep your tyres properly inflated at all times, you can set off on any drive – long or short – in any weather conditions and have the peace of mind that your tyres are safe. Buy a direct TPMS, indirect TPMS or wireless TPMS today.