As autumn is now upon us as of Tuesday 21st September, driving conditions are starting to change. They are becoming increasingly wet out on the roads. We are no strangers to the heavy rainfall that engulfs the UK throughout the majority of the year, so being able to drive safely in wet conditions is paramount for drivers. This will ensure both their own and others safety out on the roads.
Driving in Heavy Rain
Driving in heavy rain affects visibility so it is important to take it slow. If you are driving exceptionally fast in heavy rainfall, not only will this risk you losing sight of your surroundings on the road, but it also affects your braking speed. The braking distance of your tyres becomes even more important during rainfall. As stated in rule 126 in the highway handbook, it is usually at least 4 seconds when driving in the rain. The braking distances will be at least double in the wet weather because your tyres automatically have less grip on the roads. The Goodyear Vector 4Seasons tyre is a fantastic choice for driving in these conditions. This tyre is designed for all year round usage. This will save you the hassle of having to worry about changing your tyres when the rainy days of autumn come around. As well as this, the tyres directional design of the tread reduces the risk of aquaplaning as it is able to disperse the water quicker.
Stay Away from Cruise Control During Wet Weather
Whilst cruise control is a fantastic tool to use, using it during wet weather could be very dangerous. If for example, you were to drive through a puddle that causes you to hydroplane whilst in cruise control, it could mean that the car automatically accelerates. This will be in an attempt to maintain the same speed that you were driving before hitting the puddle, except that’s the complete opposite of what you were actually doing.
Driving Through Water and Floods
Driving through large bodies of water incorrectly could not only cause damage to your car, resulting in major repair costs, but serious accidents may happen as a result.
Keeping your vehicle in low gear (second is the recommended) while keeping your engine revs up helps you maintain momentum, creating a bow wave. This, in turn, stops you from getting bogged down in the body of water. Once you have reached the other side of the puddle, slow down to a stopping position for a few seconds in order to let any excess water to drain away. If you are unable to stop your car, make sure to be aware that the grip levels on the road ahead are diminished. This is due to fluid from the puddle being dropped along the surface of the road by other cars. Tyres that are perfect for these conditions include the Goodyear Duragrip. Although designed for smaller cars, the tyres are able to withstand the pressures of braking frequently. Therefore being fantastic when it comes to great grip on the wet roads. To find the best tyres for driving safely in wet weather conditions, head over to Goodyear tyres on our website for all-season, winter, and summer tyres.